Win More, Live Better

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 LoveMore 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/

The conversation highlights three timeless performance reminders from a legendary sport psychologist. It explores a 'step into the circle' focus metaphor for attention control. It stresses practicing mental skills regularly and using breath work to reset. It shares a memorable classroom story that reframes scarcity into gratitude and practical action.

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 CoachMore 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/

Most people don’t realize they’re running a marathon every day, but it's not on the road. It's in their mind. Overthinking creates mental marathons that drain energy, stall momentum, and chip away at confidence. In this episode, we explore how overthinking masquerades as preparation and a strategy for how you can stop looping in circles. 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/

Studies suggest that a large portion of fatalities for mountaineers climbing Mount Everest occur on the way down after reaching the summit. Researchers highlight multiple factors that contribute to this including fatigue and the conditions, but there's a mindset variable that plays a role here too. Drawing from a message Coach Nick Saban used to share with his staff, this episode unpacks why success can create vulnerability, how to avoid the trap of premature celebration, and what it means to stay process-driven all the way through the journey.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/

Brian Smith has spent nearly three decades building the University of Missouri wrestling program into a national powerhouse. Since taking over in 1998, he has guided the Tigers to 64 individual conference champions, 192 NCAA qualifiers, 69 All-America performances, and six athletes who have claimed 10 national titles. His teams have recorded 23 winning seasons, three undefeated dual campaigns, and an unprecedented run of 12 straight conference tournament championships. Along the way, Smith has been named Big 12 Coach of the Year three times, MAC Coach of the Year five times, WIN Magazine’s Dan Gable Coach of the Year, and the NWCA National Coach of the Year. He is Missouri’s all-time wins leader, surpassing Norm Stewart with his 12th conference title in 2023.In this episode, Coach Smith shares the origin of and philosphy behind “Tiger Style” and the four pillars that define it: Believe, Compete, One More, and Expect to Win. We also explore his process for building player-led leadership, how he integrates mental training into everyday routines, and the role of storytelling in shaping culture.Here's some notable highlights from our conversation:[5:17] — Fostering Player-driven Leadership[8:36] — The Importance of Team Connection [13:01] — Creating the Foundation for "Tiger Style"[20:47] — The 4 Pillars of "Tiger Style"[29:21] — Expecting to Win[36:15] — Why Storytelling Matters for Coaches[44:30] — Mental Mondays[51:40] — Teaching Athletes to Embrace Failure[56:20] — "Mental Physicals"[59:34] — Always Be In Learning Mode[1:07:02] — Favorite ReadsMore Resources from Coach Smith:To purchase his book "Tiger Style" -- https://www.amazon.com/Tiger-Style-Create-Winning-Culture-ebook/dp/B0DMM6WWVH/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2U1VITTCNW7E5&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.9HY8T4DC-qUOoWB_0hlMGA.gdmmprn9M_Xga9VdlSaLFs9BT5dvWODDyLQqa14aAGI&dib_tag=se&keywords=brian+smith+tiger+style&qid=1731509949&s=books&sprefix=brian+smith+tiger+styl%2Cstripbooks%2C287&sr=1-1More 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/