Win More, Live Better

In this episode of the Win More, Live Better Podcast, Zach sits down with Stephen Vogt, manager of the Cleveland Guardians and a former 10-year Major League Baseball veteran and two-time MLB All-Star.
Originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2007, Vogt spent years grinding through the minor leagues before making his big league debut in 2012. Over the next decade, he built a reputation as one of the most respected catchers in the game known not only for his performance, but for his leadership inside the clubhouse.
During his playing career, Vogt suited up for several organizations including the Rays, Athletics, Brewers, Giants, Diamondbacks, and Braves. Not long after hanging up his cleats, Vogt transitioned into coaching, joining the Seattle Mariners staff in 2023 as a bullpen and quality control coach. In November of 2023, he was named the 45th manager in Cleveland Guardians franchise history, becoming one of the youngest managers in Major League Baseball.

Here's some notable highlights from our conversation:
[5:53] — When Stephen Knew He'd Coach
[8:51] — Leadership Behind the Plate
[12:03] — Failure, Empathy, and Perspective
[16:49] — Transition from Player to Manager
[21:00] — The Emotional Weight of Coaching
[23:36] — Building Your Own Leadership Style
[26:14] — Self-Doubt and The Inner Critic
[30:30] — Three Non-Negotiables for the Team Culture
[35:06] — Warning Signs for Culture Drift
[39:29] — Creating Space for Truth-Telling
[44:01] — Building the Right Staff
[47:36] — The Power of Curiosity
[52:17] — Deleting Social Media to Protect Your Mind
[54:08] — Win Today
[55:48] — Learn the Lesson, Leave the Event
[58:29] — Support Behind the Scenes
[59:40] — Being Present as a Father

Learn More About Zach:
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
For more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/
You can watch the video recordings of the podcast on YouTube here.

Mistakes are inevitable in sport, but too often performers get derailed when they allow those mistakes to snowball. In this episode, we explore a key statistic from the best golfer in the world, Scottie Scheffler, called the bounce-back stat. We break down what causes mistakes to spiral and how athletes and leaders can develop the skill of bouncing back quickly.
Learn More About Zach:
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
For more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/

How often do you carry something long after the moment has passed? In this episode, Zach shares a powerful parable about two monks that reveals how easily we hold onto unhelpful thoughts. You’ll learn how to separate the event from the story, why release is a skill high performers develop, and how one simple idea ("The Invisible Backpack") can help lighten the load.
Learn More About Zach:
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
For more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/

After his conversation with Dr. Paul Zak, Zach dives deeper into the science of trust and what it means for coaches and leaders. Drawing from Zak’s research on oxytocin and high-trust organizations, this After the Whistle episode explores eight leadership behaviors that strengthen connection and performance inside teams. If you want to build a culture where people feel trusted, valued, and motivated to give their best, this episode offers a practical framework to start.
Learn More About Zach:
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
For more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/

Today I'm joined by Dr. Paul Zak, a distinguished university professor at Claremont Graduate University, a pioneer in the science of trust, and one of the world’s leading researchers on the neurobiology of human connection. 
He holds a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania and is ranked in the top 0.3% of the most cited scientists globally. Over the course of his career, Dr. Zak has published groundbreaking research on trust, oxytocin, and the biological foundations of cooperation, leadership, and human flourishing.
A sought-after speaker and thought leader, he has delivered talks in more than 30 countries and is a six-time TED speaker. His work has been leveraged by globally recognized organizations and audiences including Google, Facebook, Microsoft, the Association for Talent Development, ING Bank, and HSM. Through his research, writing, and speaking, Dr. Zak helps leaders better understand how trust, connection, and emotional fitness shape performance and strengthen organizations.
In this conversation, we explore the science behind trust and relationships in high-performing teams, the role of psychological safety and challenge in leadership, and why social connection may be one of the most powerful drivers of both performance and thriving. Dr. Zak also shares insights from his research on emotional fitness, why humans are biologically wired for connection, and practical ways leaders can design environments where people can perform at their best, while also living well.

Here's some notable highlights from our conversation:
[4:44] — Research Into the Neurobiology of Human Connection
[8:46] — Trust Is the Lubricant of Team Performance
[15:15] — Emotional Awareness for Leaders
[20:58] — Pushing Performers to Failure
[29:09] — Two Key Building Blocks for Trust
[34:33] — Emotional Fitness
[42:50] — Connection Is Essential to Winning
[48:50] — Invest in Human Beings, Not Human Capital
[52:34] — Lead From Love
[58:24] — Social Connection Is Key for Recovery
[1:05:26] — Kids and People Need "Time Ins" (Not Timeouts)

Learn More About Dr. Paul Zak:
You can learn more about Dr. Zak and his work on his website here.
You can check out his Six Emotional Wellness app here.
Learn More About Zach:
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
For more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/
You can watch the video recordings of the podcast on YouTube here.