#224: As an award-winning keynote speaker, eleven-time New York Times bestselling author, host of the top-rated Corporate Competitor Podcast, executive leadership coach, and longtime Associate Editor for Sports Illustrated, Don Yaeger has built a career as one of America’s most compelling and influential thought leaders.

Widely sought-after for his powerful insights on achieving greatness, Don draws from first-hand experiences working alongside some of the most legendary figures in sports and business.

 He has been engaged by leading organizations to coach executives on cultivating a culture of excellence, leveraging his proven framework developed through an extensive study of “Great Teams” in both athletics and corporate life. Known as a world-class storyteller, he has earned high praise from leadership icons such as John Maxwell and Simon Sinek, who have called him the best storyteller they have ever worked with. His expertise and charisma have earned him invitations to every major talk show—from Oprah and Good Morning America to Fox Business News and CNN.

In 2020, Don launched the Corporate Competitor Podcast, which Podcast Magazine named one of America’s Top 50 Podcasts. By 2022, Spotify ranked it among the top 5% of the most followed and shared podcasts worldwide. 

His guest list reads like a who’s who of leadership and innovation, including former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, along with CEOs from Disney, Delta Airlines, Bank of America, Hendrick Motorsports, KPMG, FanDuel, Chick-fil-A, Insight Enterprises, Topgolf, Mayo Clinic, BET Media, and The Ritz-Carlton.

Don’s newest book The New Science of Momentum shares how the best coaches and leaders build a fire from a single spark. You can find the book across all platforms where books are sold and also the Amazon link below. 

For more on Don check out social media as well as donyaeger.com 

Enjoy the show!

Book:

https://www.amazon.com/New-Science-Momentum-Coaches-Leaders/dp/1400247136/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=ZjHup&content-id=amzn1.sym.0fb2cce1-1ca4-439a-844b-8ad0b1fb77f7&pf_rd_p=0fb2cce1-1ca4-439a-844b-8ad0b1fb77f7&pf_rd_r=147-1714889-6514833&pd_rd_wg=KNm2d&pd_rd_r=6bb490c6-f2ca-4cd2-9107-756b3e2e3e2f&ref_=aufs_ap_sc_dsk 

#223: Brian Smith has served as Missouri’s head wrestling coach leading the Tigers for over 27 years. Under his leadership, Mizzou’s program has transformed into a national powerhouse through the establishment of the “Tiger Style” culture. During his tenure, he has guided the team to 23 winning seasons, including three undefeated dual campaigns, coached over 192 NCAA qualifiers and nearly 70 All-Americans, and mentored six individual national champions who collectively won ten NCAA titles 

Smith is the winningest coach in program history, with a career dual record at Missouri around 334‑120‑3 (about a .734 win‑rate), and remains one of the most decorated leaders in collegiate wrestling. He’s earned national recognition twice—winning Dan Gable Coach of the Year in 2007 and NWCA Coach of the Year in 2017—as well as multiple conference Coach of the Year awards across both MAC and Big 12 affiliation. Beyond competitive success, his wrestlers have consistently excelled academically, earning more than 150 academic honors. Coach Smith also serves on national wrestling committees and has made lasting contributions to the broader sport at both the collegiate and Olympic levels

A native of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, he was a decorated Michigan State wrestler before embarking on a coaching career that included stints at Western High School (FL), Cornell, and Syracuse.

For more on Coach Smith follow him on all social media platforms, as well as the Mizzou Wrestling Program at mutigers.com 

You can find his book Tiger Style: Eight Steps to Create a Winning Culture on Amazon in the link below. 

Enjoy the show! 

Insta: @smithbq126

Amazon link:

https://www.amazon.com/Tiger-Style-Create-Winning-Culture/dp/B0DN1PN5LM 

#222: Mark Batterson serves as the Lead Pastor of National Community Church (NCC) in Washington, DC. NCC also owns and operates Ebenezers Coffeehouse, The Miracle Theatre, the DC Dream Center, the Capital Turnaround, and Culture House as gathering places for the community and funding for Kingdom causes. Mark also serves as Lead Visionary for The Dream Collective, which equips and supports dreamers who long for revival in the church, reformation in the kingdom, and renaissance in culture.

Mark holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Regent University and is the the New York Times bestselling author of 25 books including The Circle Maker as well as In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, Wild Goose Chase, Double Blessing, Whisper, and, most recently, A Million Little Miracles and The Best Worst Day Ever, a children’s book he wrote with his daughter, Summer.

For more on Mark visit markbatterson.com as well as all social media platforms. 

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#221: Josh Pastner is the current head coach of the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels men’s basketball program, bringing with him over two decades of collegiate coaching experience and a reputation for program-building and player development. 

A member of the 1997 NCAA National Championship team at the University of Arizona, Pastner began his coaching career as a graduate assistant under Hall of Famer Lute Olson. He later served as an assistant at Memphis under John CaliPERRY before being promoted to head coach in 2009 at the age of 31, where he compiled a 167–73 record and earned Conference USA Coach of the Year honors in 2013. His tenure included four NCAA Tournament appearances and consistent national rankings, establishing him as one of the youngest and most promising coaches in the country at the time.

Following his success at Memphis, Pastner took over at Georgia Tech in 2016, leading the Yellow Jackets to an ACC Tournament championship and NCAA Tournament berth in 2021, and earning ACC Coach of the Year in 2017.

After two years as an analyst for ESPN and other networks he is now at the helm leading the Runnin Rebels. 

You can find him on social media @coachjpastner as well as the UNLV men’s basketball program @runninrebels 

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#220: Mike Beckham is co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Simple Modern, a global producer of premium drinkware and lifestyle products. Founded in 2015 and based in Oklahoma, Simple Modern currently generates a nine-figure annual revenue and is committed to generosity, donating at least 10% of annual profits to nonprofit organizations. Under Mike’s leadership, the company has grown into a category leader for Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Sam’s Club, serving more than 20 million customers worldwide.

Mike is a teacher, leader, and entrepreneur at heart. Before founding Simple Modern, Mike began his career working for the worldwide Christian ministry CRU. Equipped with a deep understanding of the nonprofit sector, Mike transitioned into the business world and helped found and operate several e-commerce businesses, which cumulatively generated more than $1 billion in revenue. Mike graduated with a degree from the University of Oklahoma Price College of Business, where he currently serves as the senior entrepreneur-in-residence.

For more on Mike you can find him on social media platforms, mikebeckhamblog.com as well as simplemodern.com 

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#219: Dwight Perry is the head coach of the Wofford Terriers men’s basketball program. A walk-on at the University of Kentucky from 2006 to 2009, Perry played in 19 games and earned SEC Academic Honor Roll distinction.

He began his coaching career interning at the Stanford’s men’s basketball program for 2 years and soon moved to VCU as a graduate assistant and video coordinator from 2011 to 2014, during which the Rams posted an impressive 82–26 record and made three NCAA Tournament appearances. Perry then spent five seasons as an assistant at Furman, contributing to three 20-win campaigns and a shared Southern Conference regular-season title.

Perry joined Wofford’s staff in April 2019, was promoted to associate head coach in September 2021, and stepped in as interim head coach on December 5, 2022. After guiding the Terriers to signature wins—including victories over Texas A&M and UNC Greensboro, and finishing 17–16—he was officially named the permanent head coach on March 21, 2023 

In his second full season (2024–25), Perry led Wofford to a Southern Conference Tournament championship and their sixth-ever NCAA Tournament berth.

On the show he shares his story of growing up, playing at Kentucky, getting into coaching, buy in, a walk on mentality of invisibility and visibility, building a culture of resilience, being authentic, the importance of family, and much more. 

You can find Coach Perry on social as well as Woffordmbb on instagram. 

Enjoy the show! 

#218: Randy Alcorn is the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries (EPM), a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching biblical truth and drawing attention to the needy and how to help them.

EPM exists to meet the needs of the unreached, unfed, unborn, uneducated, unreconciled and unsupported people around the world.

A New York Times bestselling author, Randy has written over sixty books, including Courageous, Heaven, The Treasure Principle, and the Gold Medallion winner Safely Home. His books have been translated into over 70 languages and have sold over 12 million copies.
 
Before starting EPM in 1990, Alcorn co-pastored for fourteen years Good Shepherd Community Church outside Gresham, Oregon. He has ministered in many countries, including China, and is a popular teacher and conference speaker.* 

Randy has written for many magazines including EPM’s issues-oriented Eternal Perspectives as well as articles for The Gospel Coalition and Desiring God Ministries.  He blogs, is active daily on Facebook and Twitter, and has been a guest on more than 700 radio, television and online programs including Focus on the Family, FamilyLife Today, and Revive Our Hearts. 

For more on Randy and his books check out EPM.org as well as where books are sold. 

Enjoy the show! 

#217: Ken Anderson is one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in NFL history and a cornerstone of the Cincinnati Bengals franchise. Over 16 seasons with the Bengals (1971–1986), Anderson was a four-time Pro Bowler, a three-time NFL passing champion, NFL Man of the Year award winner and the league’s Most Valuable Player and Comeback Player of the Year in 1981. That same season, he led Cincinnati to its first Super Bowl appearance (Super Bowl XVI), setting playoff records and solidifying his status as one of the premier quarterbacks of his generation. Anderson led the NFL in passer rating twice and completion percentage three times, finishing his career with over 32,000 passing yards and a then-record single-season completion percentage of 70.6% in 1982.

In addition to his on-field excellence, Anderson was known for his intelligence, leadership, and innovation, having played a key role in the early implementation of Bill Walsh’s West Coast offense. He was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 1980s and is a member of the Bengals Ring of Honor. Following his playing days, he transitioned into coaching, helping develop quarterbacks for several NFL teams, including a stint as the Bengals’ quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator. He coached players like Ben Rothleesburger with the Steelers, helping them win a Super Bowl, as well as Byron Leftwich with the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

Making an impact off the field Ken Started the Ken Anderson Alliance who mission is to create live, work, and play opportunities for adults with disabilities. 

For more info on his non profit check out https://kenandersonalliance.org/

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#216: Micah Lacher is the President and Founder of Anchor Investments, a Nashville-based real estate investment firm with a mission to become the most generous real estate company in America. Anchor specializes in the acquisition, development, and management of commercial properties across the Southeast and Midwest. 

In addition to his real estate ventures, he leads Mission Hotels, a unique hospitality initiative that repurposes historic church buildings into boutique hotels. These hotels operate with a distinctive model: over 50% of their profits are donated to local nonprofits supporting underserved communities, including organizations like Nashville Rescue Mission and Room in the Inn. 

Prior to forming Anchor Investments, he was a local partner in a regional development and brokerage firm as a developer of new retail facilities and residential communities. Along with a local partner, Micah founded and ran the Nashville office.

Prior to that partnership, he had several successful years in brokerage in the Nashville office of Colliers Turley Martin Tucker, which is now called Cushman & Wakefield. Over the course of the last 14 years, Micah has been involved as the managing partner in the acquisition and development of close to 2 million square feet of commercial real estate.

Beyond his professional endeavors, he is deeply committed to community service. He has held board and volunteer positions with several Nashville organizations, such as the Nashville House Foundation for Young Life, The Halftime Institute, and Redbird Ministries. Micah is also a co-founder of Team Chad, a nonprofit that has raised over $1.6 million for leukemia-related charities since its inception in 2007. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Tennessee, graduating Summa Cum Laude.

For more on Micah you can find him on Linkedin as well as achorinv.com and missionhotels.com 

Enjoy the show! 

#215: Paul Mills is the head men's basketball coach at Wichita State University. Prior to his tenure at Wichita State, Mills served as the head coach at Oral Roberts University from 2017 to 2023. Under his leadership, the Golden Eagles achieved significant success, including a historic Sweet 16 appearance in the 2021 NCAA Tournament as a 15-seed, making them just the second team in history to reach that stage from such a low seed. In the 2022–23 season, Mills guided ORU to a 30–5 record, an undefeated 18–0 run through the Summit League, and a No. 12 seed in the NCAA Tournament. His coaching prowess earned him recognition as a finalist for the Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year award and the NABC’s Skip Prosser Man of the Year honor. 

Before his time at Oral Roberts, Mills spent 14 years at Baylor University, initially as a coordinator of operations from 2003 to 2009 and then as an assistant coach from 2009 to 2017. During his tenure, Baylor made seven NCAA Tournament appearances, including two Elite Eight and four Sweet 16 berths. 

Mills began his coaching career at the high school level, leading his teams to multiple district championships. He also served as the director of basketball operations at Rice University for one year. Mills is a 1996 graduate of Texas A&M University with a degree in finance and completed a Master of Biblical and Theological Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary in 2020.

On the show Coach Mills shares his story of growing up, playing basketball, overcoming a career ending injury, getting into coaching, impact, stewardship, service, hard work, deeds over words, sustaining success, faith, and much more. 

Enjoy the show! 

https://x.com/coachmills?lang=en 

https://www.instagram.com/goshockersmbb/?hl=en