Win More, Live Better

What if the confidence you’re waiting for is actually on the other side of action? In this episode, Zach explores one of the most common misconceptions in performance and personal growth: The belief that we must feel confident before we act. Zach shares a powerful story from Rory Vaden’s book Take the Stairs and explores why fear is not always a sign that you’re incapable, unprepared, or not ready.

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Most organizations and teams don't fall apart suddenly or due to some catastrophic collapse. Typically, things start to break down in more subtle ways and due to small deviations from standards. Drawing on insights from Northwestern Field Hockey Head Coach Tracey Fuchs, Zach discusses how championship teams leverage regular culture audits to evaluate whether their actions align with their values. He also explores research from systems thinking to explain why drift occurs and what leaders can do to prevent it.

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Tracey Fuchs is one of the most accomplished coaches and players in the history of American field hockey.

As the head coach at Northwestern University since 2009, Fuchs has transformed the Wildcats into a national powerhouse, becoming the winningest coach in program history while leading Northwestern to multiple NCAA National Championships, Big Ten Championships, and numerous NCAA Tournament appearances. Under her leadership, Northwestern has become one of the premier programs in collegiate athletics.

Prior to her coaching career, Fuchs established herself as one of the greatest players in U.S. field hockey history. She was a three-time All-American and NCAA Champion at the University of Connecticut, the 1987 Honda Award winner as the nation’s top field hockey player, a two-time Olympian, and a longtime captain of the U.S. National Team. She remains one of the most decorated athletes the sport has ever produced and was inducted into the USA Field Hockey Hall of Fame in 2014.

Here's some notable highlights from our conversation:
[5:22] — Her Unexpected Path to Coaching

[6:44] — Solve Problems, Don't Create Them

[8:26] — Finding Your Own Leadership Voice

[14:55] — Rebuilding the Culture and Program

[17:14] — The Hard Is What Makes It Great

[20:56] — The Program's Four Core Values

[25:42] — Empowering Athletes to Lead

[30:38] — Growth Never Stops

[35:21] — Looking In the Mirror 

[38:30] — Measuring Success Beyond Championships

[41:20] — Attack, Don't Defend

[43:01] — Taking Care of Yourself as a Leader

[46:52] — Lessons From Players

[49:40] — Fair Isn't Always Equal

[51:25] — Advocacy for Women in Athletics

Follow Tracey's Coaching Journey:

• Follow Tracey on Instragram here.

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Country music star Eric Church recently delivered a commencement speech that resonated with millions. In it, he used the six strings of a guitar to explain what creates a meaningful life. In this episode, we unpack that metaphor and explore what it can teach us about ambition, identity, fulfillment, and the different parts of life that make us whole.

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In the 1980s, Van Halen became famous for an unusual backstage request: No brown M&M’s in the dressing room. This request was actually a hidden test designed to reveal whether venues had carefully followed the band’s detailed production and safety requirements. In this episode, we explore what that story teaches us about standards and why tiny details are important to protect as a leader.

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A lot of people struggle to build momentum because they make the starting line feel overwhelming. In this episode, I share the story of my wife’s “five-minute rule” that helped her run every single day for an entire year and why momentum is something we create. We discuss the psychology behind consistency, Greg McKeown’s concept of “Minimal Viable Progress,” and how stacking small wins helps us produce massive breakthroughs.

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Today we're exploring John Wooden’s famous “Nine Promises” and why they still matter today. We explore themes like emotional steadiness, relationships, self-talk, personal growth, leadership, comparison, peace of mind, and sustainable success. More than achievement, this conversation is about the internal commitments that shape the quality of our lives and help us win more without losing ourselves in the process.

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How do great performers respond to failure without becoming defined by it? In this After the Whistle segment, Zach expands on a powerful lesson shared by Louisville volleyball head coach Dan Meske: “You have to take more from failure than it takes from you.” With references to Nick Saban and another former guest on the podcast, Amy Morin, this episode is designed to help you learn from and respond more effectively to failure.

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In this episode, I’m joined by Dan Meske, the head women’s volleyball coach at the University of Louisville and one of the most respected coaches in the entire sport.

Before becoming Louisville’s head coach in 2025, Dan spent eight seasons as the program’s associate head coach, helping transform Louisville into a national powerhouse. During that stretch, the Cardinals reached multiple Final Fours, appeared in two NCAA National Championship matches, won four ACC championships, and consistently finished among the top teams in the country. In 2022, Dan was named AVCA Assistant Coach of the Year.

In his first season as Louisville’s head coach, the Cardinals finished 26–7 while advancing to the NCAA Regional Semifinals. Prior to Louisville, Dan served as head coach at Augustana University, where he compiled a 45–17 record across two seasons and led the Vikings to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2008.

Before that, Dan spent eight seasons at University of Nebraska, where the Huskers compiled a 216–44 record, won multiple conference championships, made eight NCAA Tournament appearances, and helped establish Nebraska’s sand volleyball program into a top-10 national program. 

Dan is also a former standout player at Ohio State University, where he helped lead the Buckeyes to a national semifinal appearance and earned All-MIVA honors during his collegiate career.

Here's some notable highlights from our conversation:
[4:10] — Lessons Learned from Year One as a Head Coach

[7:35] — Reflection as a Coach

[10:13] — Catching People Being Good

[16:23] — Taking Over a Winning Program

[20:54] — Growing Beyond Your Strengths as a Leader

[25:33] — Joy and Flow State in Competition

[30:02] — Core Values

[33:03] — Courage and Leadership

[43:21] — Turning Failures and Losses Into Lessons

[49:01] — Searching for Competitive Advantages

[53:49] — Never Stop Learning

[58:30] — Family and Fatherhood

Follow Dan's Coaching Journey:

• Follow Dan on Instagram here. 

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• You can watch the video recordings of the podcast on YouTube here.

Visualization is one of the most widely used mental performance tools in sports and performance, but many people use it incorrectly. In this episode, Zach explores why elite performers shouldn’t just visualize success, but also mentally rehearse the adversity, setbacks, and pressure that come with pursuing meaningful goals.

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