Win More, Live Better

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 environment.

In this conversation, you’ll hear three different perspectives from practitioners who have led mental performance departments in Major League Baseball. Together, we unpack how environments are intentionally designed, how standards and behaviors are shaped, and why culture is one of the most powerful performance drivers available to leaders.

Finally, be sure to subscribe to the show to stay current with upcoming short-form and long-form episodes throughout 2026. New guest interview epidoes will be released in a few weeks.

 Learn More About the Coach Your Brains Out Podcast:

• You can listen to other episodes on the Coach Your Brains Out podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coach-your-brains-out/id1060183650
• You can also watch a previous discussion from this panel where we discussed our perspectives on "positive thinking": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB2JPz0XpEc
• You can learn more about Billy Allen here:
• You can learn more about Ceci Craft here:
• You can learn more about Bernie Holliday here: 

 Learn More About Zach:

• If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to sign up for a free discovery call to see how I can best support you: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycall
• For more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/

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 culture for those we lead. Thus, today's episode is a reminder that outcomes are often driven less by what happens and more by the meaning we assign to it. 

• If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to sign up for a free discovery call to see how I can best support you: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycall
• For more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/

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 up for a free discovery call to see how I can best support you: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycall
• For more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/

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 environments and how coaches influence a team's culture and identity far beyond facilities or resources.

• If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to sign up for a free discovery call to see how I can best support you: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycall
• For more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/

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/in/matthew-booth-27699676?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
• You can listen to other episodes from the Being Champions podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/show/41X6O0OtGqQWIZg12o1Px3?si=cNuHdgqlRCyzVmm3wFuSlQ

 Learn More About Zach:

• If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to sign up for a free discovery call to see how I can best support you: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycall
• For more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.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 lead with greater intention, consistency, and impact.

• If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to sign up for a free discovery call to see how I can best support you: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycall
• For more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/

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 rethink what success looks like, how it’s sustained, and how coaches can win more, while living better along the way.

• If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to sign up for a free discovery call to see how I can best support you: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycall
• For more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/

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 his career, he has worked across scouting, player development, and the front office which has provided him with a rare, holistic view of what sustained excellence actually requires. 

Today, Joe brings those lessons into the corporate world and other professional sport arenas working with executives and leadership teams to help them build high-performing, values-driven organizations. Joe is also the author of Winning, Inc.: A Championship Handbook for High-Performing Leaders, where he distills decades of real-world experience into nine practical principles for leaders who want to win consistently without losing themselves or their culture in the process.

In this conversation, we explore what truly separates elite performers and organizations over time. Joe shares why high performers are wired for continuous growth. Drawing from his book Winning, Inc., he unpacks several of the nine core principles that guide high-performing teams, including the idea that winning isn’t normal and people drive process.

Here's some notable highlights from our conversation:
[5:36] — High Performers Are Wired to Grow

[8:56] — Finding the Right Environment and Support

[12:38] — Influence of Business Background

[17:20] — Winning Is Not Normal

[24:28] — Upholding Standards By Managing Discomfort

[32:09] — Helping Teams Get Unstuck

[37:50] — The "4 Hats" Leaders Wear 

[42:50] — People Drive Process

[47:28] — Selecting the Right People

[52:40] — Information Connectors

[58:06] — Taking Ownership of Culture and Defining Right

[1:03:10] — Achieving Hard Things Requires Commitment

[1:07:47] — Leaving MLB On Your Own Terms

Learn More About Joe:

• To learn more about Joe's work and coaching, check out his website here: https://jbexecutivecoach.com/
• You can also stay up-to-date on Joe's work and thought leadership by connecting with him here on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-bohringer/

 Learn More About Zach:

• If you’re a collegiate or professional coach striving to win more and live better, it's not too late to sign-up for a free coaching call this month where I can share helpful resources and explore how to best support your coaching journey. You can sign up for a call here: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycall
• For more practical tools and mindset stories, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/

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 Nik Wallenda, this episode examines how elite competitors use fear as a signal for presence and respect, instead of something to run from.

• If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to sign up for a free discovery call to see how I can best support you: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycall
• For more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/

Not every voice deserves influence and not every opinion should shape your decisions. In this episode, we discuss why great leaders have the courage to turn their back on the crowd to stay anchored to the mission and committed to their people. This conversation challenges leaders to stop reacting to outside noise and start investing fully in their people. 

• If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to sign up for a free discovery call to see how I can best support you: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycall
• For more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/