Win More, Live Better

Today's message is inspired by a quote from the American philosopher and writer, Robert Pirsig, and illustrates why we all need to create more idle space in our lives. We discuss the danger of overconsuming information, a reflection from Los Angeles Lakers' head coach on turning your mind "off and on," and how intentional pauses can help you internalize what you learn. It will help you reframe rest as part of performance, not the opposite of it. 

• 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/

What happens when you keep doing something long after its purpose is gone? In this episode, we explore the parable of soldiers guarding a concrete slab and how we are all prone to cling to old habits, beliefs, or traditions. You’ll walk away reflecting on the systems, standards, or judgments you've been repeating in your own life and how curiosity and courage can help you break free from 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/

We spend countless hours learning how to communicate better, but rarely how to say less. In performance environments overflowing with instruction and feedback, silence might be the most underused coaching tool. The best leaders don’t just know what to say, they know when to stop talking.

• 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/

Life constantly presents new opportunities, but most of them don’t look like opportunities at first. In this episode, we explore how reframing frustration and inconveniences can turn everyday setbacks into moments for growth. From a wrong dinner order to an MLB coach's “new opportunity” mindset, this conversation dives into the skill of perspective and how it separates reaction from response.

• 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/

Nate Shaw has served as the Major League Strength and Conditioning Coordinator for the Arizona Diamondbacks since 2006. 

As a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC), Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), and Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach Emeritus (RSCC*E), Nate has spent over two decades helping elite athletes maximize their potential (physically, mentally, and emotionally).

In this episode, Nate shares insights from 23 seasons in professional baseball on development, leadership, feedback, self-awareness, and the mindset that separates good coaches from great ones. He reflects on the power of trust, the lessons he’s learned from fatherhood, and why he believes love and service sit at the core of performance and growth.

Here's some notable highlights from our conversation:

[5:12] — The Core Qualities of a Great Coach

[9:13] — Leading With Service in Mind

[11:25] — Separating Good vs. Great

[13:45] — What Are You Committed To?

[16:45] — Lessons From Early Failures

[19:51] — The Gift of Feedback

[25:37] — Shifting a Player's Mindset

[30:09] — Distinguishing Facts vs. Stories

[33:37] — Helping People Breakthrough Limiting Beliefs

[42:41] — Creating Your Future

[49:51] — Committing to a Team's Mission and Values

[54:35] — Building a Coaching Tree

[58:51] — Lessons on Leadership from Fatherhood and Love

More Resources from Nate:

• To learn more about Nate's personal coaching, feel free to check out his website here: https://www.coachnateshaw.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/

In boxing, the knockout punch is the focus for most highlight reels, but the best fighters know the real work happens cut by cut. Drawing inspiration from a recent viral clip and quote from Dan Lanning (University of Oregon Football Coach), this episode explores what it means to “work the cut” in sports and in life. We explore how progress rarely comes from one knockout moment. Instead, it’s the accumulation of jabs in the form of small, repeated actions that add up to something bigger. 

• 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/

Ken Ravizza is a legend in sport psychology and I was fortunate to learn directly from him as a mentee during grad school. In this episode, I share three timeless reminders from Ken and one unforgettable story about perspective that continues to shape how I see performance and life.

• 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/

Arizona State University women’s basketball head coach Molly Miller has built a reputation as one of the most successful and sought-after coaches in the game today. 

Before arriving at ASU in March 2025, she guided Grand Canyon University to a 32–3 record, a 30-game winning streak, and the school’s first NCAA Women’s Tournament berth. Add to that 180 wins at her alma mater Drury University (including a Division II Final Four appearance and 5 conference championships) and Miller enters her first season in Tempe with an incredible career record of 297–55 (.845). 

In this episode, Coach Miller shares how she designs high-energy practices, the role of her “Millie-isms” and intentional language in teaching, and why gratitude is a foundational habit for her program. She also reflects on how motherhood reshaped her coaching, how she empowers her staff and players to take ownership, and the lessons she’s learned about adaptability and empathy as a leader.

Here's some notable highlights from our conversation:

[4:21] — Designing Game-Like Practices

[6:16] — Culture Checks in Practice

[8:10] — Intentional Language and "Millie-isms"

[11:26] — Cultivating a Culture

[13:55] — Being Elite in All Aspects

[15:47] — Creating a Culture of Gratitude

[17:53] — How Motherhood Changed My Coaching

[21:08] — Hiring Staff With Complementary Strengths

[24:55] — Pipeline to Paradise: Why Players Choose ASU

[27:58] — Balancing Competitiveness and Empathy

[31:51] — Navigating Crucial Conversations

[33:19] — Modeling the Standard

[40:32] — Goals and Growth

[45:11] — Getting Feedback as a Coach

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/

Behind every person are stories and feelings we can’t always see. Most of us keep our deepest concerns, fears, and feelings hidden until someone feels safe enough to share with. This episode is about the kind of question that can create that safety. Inspired by a classroom experiment that grew into a global movement, we’ll look at how leaders and coaches can use simple words to help others feel seen, understood, and empowered.

• 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/

UFC legend Randy Couture had a simple ritual at the start of each training camp: Acknowledge the worst-case scenario. This practice helped him keep things in perspective and helped him cultivate a mindset that freed him up to perform his best. In this episode, we explore how naming fears and accepting what you can’t control free you to compete and lead without fear holding you back. 

• 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/