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Episode #102 of Pre-Zero Sports Talk features leadership advisor and former COO Björn Vikard in a raw, honest, and deeply insightful conversation on leadership, succession, trust, systems thinking, and high-performance culture.

Drawing on more than 20 years of experience across Sweden, Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, and Thailand, Björn shares hard-earned lessons on cross-cultural leadership, rebuilding broken trust, founder dependency, organizational culture, and why great teams collapse when leadership becomes overly centered on one individual.

Using powerful examples from Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United, the All Blacks, Olympic systems, and family-owned businesses, this episode explores how leaders can build organizations, teams, and cultures that last beyond them.

We also dive into communication, marriage, parenting, AI’s impact on leadership, “gemba” leadership, sports development systems, and the importance of humility, self-awareness, and accountability.

A powerful long-form conversation for leaders, coaches, founders, athletes, and anyone interested in leadership beyond titles and ego.

Timestamps

00:00 Leadership Beyond the Leader
02:59 Culture Shock in Sri Lanka
09:49 Why Relationships Matter in Asia
12:28 Trust, Character & Self-Awareness
21:40 Systems Over Hero Leaders
27:54 Sports Coaching Cycles
31:54 Founder Succession Fears
40:49 Difficult Conversations With Owners
56:37 Different Levels See Different Problems
57:39 Gemba Leadership Explained
01:01:58 Rebuilding Broken Trust
01:09:52 Marriage & Communication
01:13:29 AI & The Future of Consulting
01:22:26 Lightning Round
01:31:06 Final Thoughts & Quote

Learn more about Björn → https://bjornvikard.com/

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In Episode 101 of the Pre-Zero Sports Talk Podcast, Sid Bensalah sits down with Jonathan K. Osborne, a former Division I basketball player and federal prosecutor, now leading white-collar defense and internal investigations.

This conversation explores preparation vs. uncertainty — and how sports shape leadership, discipline, and identity beyond the game. Jonathan shares how grace, grit, and humility became the foundation of his journey from athlete to attorney.

One powerful framework he shares is thinking about life in 7-year cycles — where each phase brings periods of growth and evolution across three key areas: professional life, personal life, and community service.

He also reflects on failure and losing — not just as outcomes, but as defining moments that shape character and perspective.

The episode dives into the realities of NIL deals, contract risks, and leadership under pressure, while also touching on faith, service, and purpose. In a powerful moment, Jonathan shares what gives him hope — rooted in progress, growth, and the impact we have on others.

A raw and insightful conversation for athletes, leaders, and anyone navigating pressure and purpose.

Timestamps

00:00 Grace, Grit & Humility: What Sports Teach You About Life and Pressure
02:09 Sportsmanship And Grace
03:34 Basketball Lessons: Grit Humility
09:24 Player To Coach Mindset
11:21 Athletes In Business Excellence
13:39 Habits, Health, and Seven Years
23:21 Defining Winning And Losing
26:40 Servant Leadership Principles
30:08 Pressure as a Federal Prosecutor
33:28 Composure Reading The Room
36:08 Detaching After Verdicts
40:15 Settling vs Trial Control
41:59 NIL Deal Misconceptions
43:17 Contract Dispute Clauses
45:56 Unequal Leverage and Representation
50:49 Is NIL Sustainable
52:52 Key Clauses to Review
01:02:01 Morality Clauses and Investigations
01:05:28 AI Ethics in Legal Practice
01:08:37 Hope Progress and Service
01:12:52 Lightning Round
01:19:53 Final Wisdom and Closing

To learn more about Jonathan, click here. 

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On the milestone Episode 100 of Pre-Zero Sports Talk, Sid Bensalah sits down with Dr. Jack Groppel, a sports science pioneer and author of Mountains Within, for a raw, deeply personal conversation about success, faith, and identity.

From a childhood shaped by a demanding father to a lifelong drive to prove himself, Jack opens up about what he calls “achievement addiction” — the relentless pursuit of external validation. Despite working with elite athletes and leading organizations such as the Human Performance Institute, he reveals that success alone was never enough.

A turning point came during a 1996 hospitalization, when isolation forced him to confront deeper questions about purpose, relationships, and faith. What followed was a journey of transformation — guided by mentors, grounded in faith, and ultimately reshaped by fatherhood after adopting his son from China.

Jack shares powerful insights into curiosity as a driver of growth, the role of fear in life and faith — reflected in Holy Easter and the human experience of fear — and the importance of character over performance. As he puts it, “I’m not a fan of pushing in sport, but I’m a big fan of being a great parent.”

From an unforgettable trip to Alaska with his father to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro with his son, this episode reflects on transformation, resilience, and the mountains 

Timestamps

00:00 - I Spent My Life Trying to Prove Myself
00:01 - Redefining Success
03:07 - Early Life and Father Influence
10:27 - Curiosity, Pressure, and Validation
25:21 - Faith, Crisis, and Searching for Truth
31:15 - Becoming a Sports Science Pioneer
53:24 - Elite Performance and Human Potential
01:12:50 - Risk, Career Choices, and Achievement Addiction
01:33:32 - Adoption and Becoming a Father
01:50:00 - Kilimanjaro and the Mountains Within
02:04:06 - Final Reflections on Purpose and Success

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In this episode, 99, Sid Bensalah talks with Alex Lubyansky, Founder of Detroit Metro FC and former European Sporting Director, to reveal a tough truth about U.S. soccer.

The system is built more for participation than actual performance.

Alex discusses how the pay-to-play model prioritizes players by income over talent, explains how incentives shape behavior at both youth and professional levels, and describes how the U.S. differs from global soccer systems. From Europe’s merit-based promotion and relegation system to South America’s culture of access and street football, this conversation challenges how we view development, competition, and success.

This offers a clear, honest perspective on governance, money, and the structural forces shaping the game.

Timestamps:

00:00 Why U.S. Soccer Fails
00:01 Participation Over Performance
01:59 Meet Alex Lubyansky
02:54 From Ukraine to Pro Football
05:36 Building a Free Club Model
07:10 Europe Rewards Winning
08:36 U.S. Soccer Business Model
09:40 Why Transfers Don’t Matter
12:46 MLS: Entertainment vs Sport
13:44 Culture and Attention
24:35 Grassroots Costs
34:08 Detroit Metro FC
37:24 Promotion and Relegation
39:38 U.S. League Structure
41:16 Why Promotion Matters
42:27 Europe’s Club Culture
44:13 Pressure and Performance
47:05 Can the U.S. Change
48:36 Super League Risk
51:55 Pay-to-Play by Design
56:23 College Soccer
58:08 Money vs Culture
01:04:30 Brazil and Argentina
01:09:19 World Cup Impact
01:14:53 Lightning Round

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In Episode 98, Sid Bensalah sits down with Scott Martin, an award-winning soccer coach, educator, and author of Play From Your Heart.

After a life-threatening infection led to septic shock, a month-long coma, and the loss of both hands and parts of his feet, Scott was forced to rebuild his life from the ground up. What followed is a powerful journey of resilience, leadership, and rediscovering purpose through sport.

Scott shares how coaching is not about control, but about putting players in a position to learn. He reflects on identity, confidence, parenting, and what it means to lead with empathy and accountability. From raising five adopted children to returning to the sidelines with prosthetics, his story is raw, honest, and deeply human.

This episode explores leadership beyond the game, adaptive sports, and why playing from the heart changes everything.

Timestamps

00:00 Play From Your Heart
01:04 Coaching as Learning
02:48 Parenting and Leadership
07:20 Life Changed Overnight
10:29 Driven Before Illness
14:25 Coaching Philosophy
19:46 Mentors and Culture
31:31 Illness Warning Signs
35:10 Coma and Wake Up
38:36 Identity and Grief
50:01 Adoption Journey
59:38 Return to Coaching
01:14:03 Writing the Book
01:18:53 Disability Advocacy
01:20:46 Paralympics and Media
01:30:05 Building a Winning Team
01:35:36 Empathy and Accountability
01:40:00 Lightning Round

Learn more about Scott here.

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What if dyslexia is not a disability, but a different method of processing information that schools still do not understand? 

In this detailed episode, Sid Bensalah interviews Russell Van Brocklen, a dyslexia researcher funded by the New York State Senate, whose personal struggles with reading and writing drove him to pursue a 20-year mission to reevaluate dyslexia and learning. After being assessed at roughly a first-grade reading and writing level in college, Russell developed a system that challenges traditional ways schools teach dyslexic students and shows how parents, teachers, and coaches can better support them.

Russell explains why many schools use the wrong cognitive approach, how his front-brain learning model functions, and why word analysis followed by articulation can quickly improve writing. He also shares case studies from state-funded programs, success stories led by parents, and his views on sports, motivation, neurodiverse thinking, and institutional resistance.

This is a raw, honest, high-energy discussion on dyslexia research, education reform, learning systems, coaching dyslexic athletes, and practical steps for families and educators.

Timestamps

00:00 The Dyslexic Advantage
00:58 The F That Sparked A Mission
08:49 Why Schools Miss Dyslexia
13:48 First Grade Level Evaluation
21:45 Law School Trial By Fire
30:22 Front Brain Strategy Explained
45:02 Building A Learning System
49:02 Kimberly And Reed Breakthrough
01:06:52 Schools vs Neurodiverse Brains
01:21:00 Sports as Strength Builder
01:27:01 Institutional Resistance
01:39:51 AI as Research Assistant
01:49:09 Final Advice and Closing

Learn more about Russell → https://DyslexiaClasses.com

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In Episode 96 of the Pre-Zero Sports Talk Podcast, host Sid Bensalah interviews Josephina Oji, Global Director of Impact, Sustainability, and Transformation, for an engaging discussion on leadership, sustainability, and the value of an outsider perspective in sports.

Josephina shares her “squiggly career” journey from law, human rights, and government policy into global sports strategy. Drawing on experience in diplomacy, criminal justice reform, and health equity, she explains how new perspectives can challenge traditional thinking within the sports industry.

The discussion examines why sport remains one of the most influential yet fragmented sectors regarding governance, sustainability, and long-term strategic planning. Josephina emphasizes that social and environmental responsibility should not be seen as a mere compliance task, but as a competitive advantage that can open new markets, build community trust, and generate lasting impact.

From golf’s transformation and emerging markets to fan behavior, gender equity, and the role of storytelling in sustainability, this episode highlights how sport can become a powerful tool for global change. Josephina also shares her thoughts on leadership, navigating the industry as a young Black woman, and the importance of building allies and strategic partnerships to promote meaningful progress.

Timestamps

00:00 Josephina Oji: The Outsider Advantage in Sport, Sustainability, Leadership, and Impact
04:24 Intro 
08:47 Soft Power & Equity in Diplomacy and Pandemic Response
10:35 Leaving Government: Consulting and the Business Case for Impact
18:36 Will AI Replace Lawyers? 
25:36 Why Sport Hired Her
31:18 Outsider Blind Spots, Barriers, & Leadership Challenges
38:17 Building Trust in Sport Through Expertise & Strategy
45:41 Allies in the Room: Influence & Advocacy
46:14 Why Sport Feels “Immature” & Why That Creates Opportunity
50:32 Fan Behavior, Storytelling, & Breaking Down Silos
01:02:15 Representation, Tiger Woods, & the Next Generation
01:06:04 Why Equal Pay Still Lags in Elite Sport
01:13:39 Lightning Round
01:21:27 AI, Legacy, & Sport as a Vehicle for Change

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Are men facing a modern masculinity crisis?

In Episode 95 of Pre-Zero Sports Talk, Sid Bensalah sits down with Maxim Shapiro, men’s purpose coach and founder of Forward Motion Coaching, for a raw and honest conversation about depression, identity, effort, and reclaiming authentic self-leadership.

Maxim shares how years of drifting, negative self-talk, and playing it safe led to deep dissatisfaction. In his early 40s, a “jarring awakening” pushed him to move from Massachusetts to California, start a business, commit to a long-term relationship, and come off antidepressants. What followed was not comfort, but growth.

This episode explores:

• Why many men feel lost or displaced in today’s culture
• The difference between the true self and the performed self
• Effort vs results and redefining success
• Loving as effort and leadership as presence
• Digital culture, dopamine, and declining real community
• Rebuilding belonging through hard, shared practices like jiu-jitsu
• Practical steps to move from stuck to alive

Maxim explains that self-respect grows from consistent effort, not outcomes. Big goals matter even without guarantees. Authenticity requires stillness, breathing, intuition, and the courage to say what is true.

00:00 – Weather Check & Setting the Conversation
02:10 – Depression at 19 and Early Negative Self-Talk
04:26 – Drifting Without Purpose
06:45 – Moving to California and Going All-In
12:22 – Effort Over Results and Self-Respect
18:13 – Big Goals and Redefining Failure
24:10 – What Success Really Means
32:54 – Coaching Men to Open Up
36:19 – Intuition, Stillness, and Authenticity
38:47 – True Self vs Performed Self
42:47 – Masculinity Today and Leadership
46:30 – Digital Culture and Disconnection
49:43 – Rebuilding Community Through Jiu-Jitsu
52:10 – Small Consistent Actions That Create Change
55:44 – Lightning Round
01:01:05 – Viktor Frankl Closing

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In Episode 94 of the Pre-Zero Sports Talk Podcast, Sid Bensalah sits down with performance coach Tom Waite to explore why your body is the real business plan for any leader aiming for clarity, resilience, and long-term performance. Tom works with executives and founders, using athletic training principles, biometric data, strength work, and recovery systems to help high performers avoid burnout and lead with energy and purpose.

Tom shares his journey from semi-professional athlete to coaching leaders, and explains why many executives miss the earliest signs of declining health. He breaks down the importance of understanding your “why,” how to build feedback systems that guide behavior, and why strength training, nutrition, and recovery routines drive better decision-making and mental sharpness.

This conversation blends real stories, practical strategies, and honest reflections on leadership, identity, and sustainable performance. If you want to lead at a high level without sacrificing your health, this episode offers a clear roadmap grounded in experience, not theory.

Timestamps

00:00 Your Body Is the Business Plan, Training Leaders Like Athletes
00:01 Introduction and Greetings
00:22 Discussing the Grind Culture
01:21 Introducing the Guest: Tom, the Performance Coach
01:58 Tom's Journey from Athlete to Coach
03:10 The Importance of Health for Executives
03:57 The Missing Element in Executive Health
06:33 Real-Life Stories of Health Transformation
15:27 Identifying Early Signs of Declining Health
17:12 Debating Weight Loss Medications
23:20 Building Effective Health Systems
25:43 Healthy Eating Habits
27:00 The Importance of Wearables
30:06 Morning Rituals for Success
31:52 Strength Training for Longevity
37:27 Travel and Nutrition Tips
41:27 Lightning Round Q&A
45:23 Final Thoughts and Contact Info

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Angela R. Lewis, a former Division I basketball player, championship-winning coach, author, and leadership consultant, joins host Sid Bensalah on the Pre-Zero Sports Talk podcast to discuss the evolving landscape of women's sports. The conversation covers visibility in women's sports, the importance of role models, and the growth and investment that drive the game's popularity. Angela delves into her V6 framework, which helps athletes transition from valley to victory, emphasizing character development over performance. She also highlights the significance of trust, resilience, and personal growth in coaching, shares insights on pay equity, and reflects on the impact of media portrayals in sports. Angela's new children's book and her existing publications aim to inspire and empower young athletes, emphasizing courage, heart, and community. The episode offers valuable insights for athletes, coaches, and sports enthusiasts seeking to foster a supportive and equitable sports environment.

Timestamps

00:00 - Angela Lewis on Coaching, Equity & the Future of Women’s Sports
00:01 - Opening & Intro
00:16 - Visibility in Women’s Sports
02:04 - Meet Angela Lewis
03:24 - Her Coaching Journey
07:16 - The V6 Framework Explained
09:46 - Handling Setbacks & Growth
14:39 - Trust in Coaching Relationships
17:52 - Growth of the Women’s Game
21:15 - Media Coverage & Representation
29:29 - Humanizing Athletes
31:53 - Pay Equity: Where We Are
36:52 - Faith, Identity & Resilience
38:08 - Messages for Young Girls in Sports
47:14 - Lightning Round Q&A
50:20 - Final Reflections & Ways to Connect

- Learn more about Angela: angelarlewis.com
 

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