Win More, Live Better

Most performers spend the majority of their lives in repetition in the form of practice, meetings, workouts, conversations, and responsibilities that cycle over and over every day. Today, we’re discussing how to bring more intentionality to these activities through one of my favorite lessons from the Greek mythology of Sisyphus.  

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• 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

This episode explores how old habits, beliefs, and routines “auto-renew” in our lives long after they’ve served their purpose. Zach shares a story about a Major League pitcher "unsubscribing" from a starting point in his delivery and implementing a small adjustment to accelerate his career. Listeners will learn why stagnation carries invisible costs, how leaders accidentally let their environment choose their direction, and how to run a performance “subscription audit” to create intentional growth heading into a new season. 

• For more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/
• 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

Today's guest is two-time Olympian Kibwé Johnson. He joins the show with one of the most decorated careers in U.S. hammer history including being a five-time U.S. Champion, Pan American Games gold medalist and record holder, and a three-time NCAA Champion. He also holds the world record for the combined hammer–discus–weight throw and represented the United States at four World Championships.

Kibwé has since built an impressive coaching path through IMG Academy, SPIRE Academy, Southeastern Louisiana, and now the University of Maryland, where he serves as Throws Coach. He was also the USA Track & Field Men’s Team Head Throws Coach for the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo.

In our conversation, we talk about the artistry of throwing, creating the right conditions for athletes to find their individual movement, the Dao of the hammer, and how his own misalignments as an athlete shaped the coach he is today. We also explore the role of patience, curiosity, and fatherhood in his development as a leader.

Here's some notable highlights from our conversation:
[5:18] — The Artistry of Throwing 

[7:23] — "Creating the Conditions" for Athletes

[10:36] — Learning to Embrace Individuality as a Thrower

[16:54] — How Kibwe Would Coach His Younger Self

[18:57] — Solving Movement Riddles 

[24:15] — The Dao of the Hammer

[30:53] — The Yin & Yang for Effort

[37:10] — Letting Go of Ego

[46:32] — Kibwe's Process for Learning

[49:48] — Creating the Conditions for Flow

[53:14] — Most Important Mental Skill for Athletes

[1:02:05] — Breaking Out of Plateaus

[1:05:05] — Creating Something that Didn't Exist When He Competed

Learn More About Kibwe:

• To learn more about Kibwe's coaching and his work, I'd encourage you to follow his journey here: https://www.instagram.com/martillokibwe/?hl=en

 Learn More About Zach:

• For more practical tools and mindset stories, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/
• 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

What do you do when pressure spikes or the moment starts moving too fast? Using a powerful story from Navy SEAL Mark Owen’s book No Hero, this episode explores a practical framework for staying composed in these moments and controlling the controllables. 

• For more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/
• 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

Most of us don’t realize we’re being put on trial every single day by our own thoughts. This episode dives into the “mental courtroom” we carry inside us. It's a place where childhood labels become lifelong rulings and where outdated stories shape how we think, lead, and perform. We also discuss a simple 3-step process for challenging our unhelpful thoughts and replace them with more accurate and current beliefs.

• For more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/
• 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

This episode explores the famous story of Muhammad Ali’s stolen red bicycle and how one painful childhood moment became an unexpected spark in his journey toward greatness. We break down why adversity often shapes drive, what research shows about performers who turn hardship into fuel, and how purpose evolves as identity evolves. You’ll also hear how athletes like Amon-Ra St. Brown and Simone Biles have channeled their own sources of motivation.

• For more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/
• 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

This episode dives into what happens when the role you’ve built no longer matches the life you want. If you’ve ever felt a pull toward a different future, this one’s for you. 

• For more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/
• If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to reach out anytime to see how I can best serve you: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-brandon-40169573/

Today I’m joined by Cody Royle who spends his days coaching some of the top head coaches in elite sport.

Cody is a former head coach of Canada’s men’s AFL national team. He’s the author of three books (Where Others Won’t, The Tough Stuff, and Second Set of Eyes) and previously hosted the leadership podcast Where Others Won’t, where he explored how great teams and leaders actually thrive.

In this conversation, Cody pulls back the curtain on the emotional reality of coaching at the highest level. He shares a story of a terrible tragedy that reshaped his understanding of leadership and was the catalyst for him to write The Tough Stuff.

We talk about why the real burden on modern coaches isn’t “expectations” but the weight of caring. Cody also walks through his four-part “Coach Craft” model and introduces the idea of “coaching free” as the coach’s version of flow.


Here's some notable highlights from our conversation:
[6:27] — How Tragedy Led to "The Tough Stuff" Book

[8:56] — The Emotional Gap in Coaching

[11:34] — Asking For Help

[16:30] — Becoming a Coach for Head Coaches

[20:58] — The Real Weight of Leadership

[25:03] — Distributing the Weight of Leadership

[27:20] — Reframing Time Away from Kids

[30:59] — From Playing Free to "Coaching Free"

[35:25] — Three Questions Every Coach Should Answer

[39:36] — Short-Term Results and Long-Term Transformation

[43:44] — The Four Crafts of Coaching

[50:15] — Why Coaching is Still in Third Gear

[57:16] — Learning From Other Environments

[1:06:51] — Coaching is for Elite Leaders Too

More Resources from Cody:

• To learn more about Cody's coaching, email newsletter, and books, I'd encourage you to check out his website here: https://www.codyroyle.com/

More Resources from Zach:

• For more practical tools and mindset stories, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/
• If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to reach out anytime to see how I can best serve you: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-brandon-40169573/

This episode explores how one of the NFL's all-time best wide receivers, Larry Fitzgerald, extended his greatness by inviting some of his top competitors to train with him one offseason. We'll discuss the curiosity that helped him excel and his proactive approach to learning, even while at the top of the NFL. This episode is a guide for anyone who wants to stay hungry after success. 

• For more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/
• If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to reach out anytime to see how I can best serve you: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-brandon-40169573/

Some teams are overflowing with talent yet never reach their ceiling. S today's episode explores John Maxwell’s “Law of the Lid” principle and how a leader’s personal growth directly shapes the ceiling of their team’s potential. Through stories like Mike Norvell’s developmental approach at Memphis University and coaching trees from legends like Tara VanDerveer and Nick Saban, we break down how leaders either raise or restrict the impact of those around them. 

• For more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/
• If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to reach out anytime to see how I can best serve you: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-brandon-40169573/