Win More, Live Better
Zach Brandon
Win More, Live Better is a podcast for sport coaches and high-performing leaders who care deeply about results, but refuse to compromise their well-being, joy, or relationships in the process. This show explores what it really means to win more and live better on your terms. Through stories, conversations, and practical frameworks, each episode helps you sharpen your leadership, strengthen your inner game, and build systems that support sustainable performance for you and those you lead.Hosted by Zach Brandon, a nationally recognized performance and leadership advisor who partners with elite sport coaches, executives, and high performers to help them thrive using practical tools, systems, and mindset frameworks.
Episodes
Mentioned books
May 23, 2025 • 7min
Counterbalancing
Coaches and leaders often give everything to their teams and leave little for themselves. In this episode, we talk about the power of counterbalancing: A mindset shift that helps you lead with intensity and sustainability. You can’t be everywhere at once, but you can be present where it matters most. If you’ve ever felt out of sync or stretched thin, this one’s for you.
May 22, 2025 • 6min
Target Practice
If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time. In this episode, we break down why clarity of focus is essential for consistent performance and how setting specific, process-based targets helps us execute and quiet the noise of distraction. For anyone interested in shifting their vague intentions into focused execution, then this episode might be for you.
May 21, 2025 • 6min
The King of Heists
What can a 19th-century bank robber teach us about high performance? In this episode, we explore the story of George Leonidas Leslie (a criminal mastermind) who prepared for pressure with the precision of an elite athlete. You'll learn why training under realistic conditions matters and how to apply the science of skill transfer to your own craft. If you want to be ready when it counts, this episode will show you how to practice like it matters.
May 20, 2025 • 7min
There’s No Tiger in the Marketplace
Some beliefs don’t start out true, but they just get repeated until they feel that way. In this episode, we explore how message repetition shapes our beliefs through an ancient parable, a powerful psychological effect, and the words we speak to ourselves every day. You’ll hear how the stories you tell yourself, and what you allow others to repeat, can either build your confidence or break it.
May 19, 2025 • 7min
The Etch A Sketch Reset
Every performer makes mistakes, but not every performer knows how to let them go. In this episode, we use the Etch A Sketch as a metaphor for mental resets and explore why "forgetting on purpose" can actually sharpen your performance. You’ll hear practical ways to build a reset routine, insights from NFL standout Christian McCaffrey, and how coaches can use space (not just repetition) to accelerate learning. If you’ve ever struggled to move on from a rough day or missed opportunity, this one’s for you.
May 16, 2025 • 7min
Stuck Circling
Ever watch a dog spin in circles before lying down? It’s instinct. But it’s also a perfect metaphor for how we as humans spin and circle our thoughts, behaviors, and emotions. In this episode, we break down why our brains crave familiarity (even if it keeps us stuck) and how we can spot those mental “circling” patterns that sabotage progress. If you’ve ever waited for the perfect moment to act, this episode will help you stop spinning and start building the capacity to move forward, even when it feels uncomfortable.
May 15, 2025 • 6min
Tiny Mistakes, Big Consequences
In this episode, we explore the true story of the Hubble Space Telescope, a $1.5 billion marvel nearly rendered useless because of a mirror flaw just two microns wide. In high performance, it’s the little things that make the biggest difference. With insight from Tiger Woods and NASA’s recovery effort, this episode will challenge you to rethink how you treat the small details in your process.
May 14, 2025 • 5min
The $1.5 Million Dollar Note
When Albert Einstein couldn’t offer a tip to a hotel bellboy, he handed him a handwritten note with a quiet truth about happiness and ambition. Nearly a century later, that note still speaks to the tension so many high performers feel: Chasing success while losing sight of fulfillment. In this episode, we explore the hidden cost of restlessness.
May 13, 2025 • 8min
Friction
Ever tried canceling a subscription and felt like the company really didn’t want to let you go? In this episode, I unpack what a recent experience reminded me about friction. Drawing from insights in The Friction Project, we explore how performers and coaches can use strategic friction to make better decisions, build stronger habits, and lead with intention. Sometimes, the obstacle is the way, if you put it in the right place.
May 12, 2025 • 7min
Drip By Drip
Real growth isn’t always loud or dramatic. It’s often quiet and steady. In this episode, we unpack why consistency matters more than intensity and how small daily efforts build momentum that lasts. Using the metaphor of water gradually splitting a rock, we’ll explore how performers and coaches can stay committed even when progress feels slow. Drip by drip, change is happening.
