Win More, Live Better

Imagine opening a document with feedback about all your strengths and growth areas from dozens of people you spend time with regularly. Which comments would you fixate on? Which ones would you want to explain away or defend? Which ones do you think would show up, but internally you're hoping it doesn't? In this episode, Zach explores how to get better at receiving feedback and increasing your tolerance for it, especially the kind you don't want to hear. 
Learn More About Zach:
Email Zach -- Zbrandon1022@gmail.com
Explore Zach's new website here.
You can watch the video recordings of the podcast on YouTube here.

What can penguins teach us about building stronger relationships? More than you might think. In this episode, Zach introduces a concept called pebbling and shares how something as simple as a thoughtful gesture can create opportunities for deeper connection and help others feel seen, heard, and valued.
Learn More About Zach:
Email Zach -- Zbrandon1022@gmail.com
Explore Zach's new website here.
You can watch the video recordings of the podcast on YouTube here.

Your team might have two very different cultures: The one you talk about and the one your people actually experience. Culture isn't simply shaped by the values you communicate or the standards you establish. It's shaped by the behaviors you consistently reinforce, reward, and tolerate. In this episode, Zach uses an everyday driving analogy to explore why consistency is essential to building culture and maintaining credibility as a leader. He also shares three practical questions to help coaches and leaders evaluate whether their actions are reinforcing the standards they expect others to uphold.
Learn More About Zach:
Email Zach -- Zbrandon1022@gmail.com
Explore Zach's new website here.
You can watch the video recordings of the podcast on YouTube here.

Shonda Stanton is the head softball coach at Indiana University and one of the most accomplished coaches in collegiate softball, with nearly three decades of head coaching experience and more than 890 career victories.
Since taking over Indiana's program in 2017, Stanton has helped transform the Hoosiers into a consistent Big Ten contender, leading the program to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances from 2023–2026, including its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2011. Her tenure has also featured multiple 40-win seasons and a program-record 23-game winning streak in 2023.
Before arriving at Indiana, Stanton spent 18 seasons as the head coach at Marshall University, where she became the winningest coach in program history. During her tenure, she led the Thundering Herd to multiple conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances, establishing Marshall as one of Conference USA's most competitive programs. In recognition of her contributions, she was inducted into the Marshall Athletics Hall of Fame in 2024.
Stanton's coaching experience also extends to the professional ranks. She previously coached with the Akron Racers and, in 2026, served as head coach of the Chicago Bandits in the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL), working with some of the sport's top professional players.

Here's some notable highlights from our conversation:
[6:00] — Become an Engineer of Belief
[8:53] — No Surprises in Our Program
[13:08] — Confidence Isn't Built Through Perfection
[18:11] — The Baton of Leadership
[24:49] — Energy Giving Behaviors (EGB's)
[30:38] — Adjust Your Leadership, Not Yourself
[34:05] — Love Who They're Becoming
[38:20] — Love Goes First
[41:35] — Let Them Make Mistakes
[45:32] — Stop Trying to Please Everyone
[49:43] — Winning Doesn't Always Define Great Coaching
[52:46] — Know What You Value
[56:15] — Sustaining Yourself in the Coaching Profession
[1:00:21] — "Honoring the Pause"
[1:03:16] — The Family Behind the Coach

Learn More About Zach:
Zach's Email -- Zbrandon1022@gmail.com
Explore 1:1 coaching with Zach -- Schedule a free call here.
Download my free Win More, Live Better Leadership Playbook here.
You can watch the video recordings of the podcast on YouTube here.

What makes someone the best coach or leader you've ever had? Harvard leadership instructor Margaret Andrews has spent nearly two decades asking people a similar question. Her findings reveal that approximately 85% of the reasons people identify have little to do with intelligence or technical expertise. In this episode, we explore what these findings can teach us about coaching and why the way people experience your leadership matters.
Learn More About Zach:
Email Zach -- Zbrandon1022@gmail.com
Explore Zach's new website here.
Download my free Win More, Live Better Leadership Playbook here.
You can watch the video recordings of the podcast on YouTube here.