Billy Allen | Stanford University Beach Volleyball Coach and Player Development Coordinator | "Learning is a maze, not a ladder."
Billy Allen brings a rare blend of experience to today's conversation: Elite performer, coach, author, and longtime podcast host. Entering his third season as an assistant coach and player development coordinator for Stanford’s beach volleyball program in 2026, Billy has already helped guide the Cardinal to a historic success on The Farm.Outside of coaching, Billy continues to compete on the AVP professional beach volleyball tour. A three-time AVP champion and former member of the USA Beach Volleyball National Team, he represented Team USA for six years on the world stage. Billy is also the co-host of the long-running “Coach Your Brains Out” podcast, where he has interviewed some of the most respected coaches and thought leaders in sport and he is the author of multiple books spanning from coaching to fiction fantasy.In this conversation, we explore Billy’s perspective on the mental game through both the lens of an athlete and a coach. We discuss what he’s learned from talking with top coaches around the world, how those lessons have shaped his own coaching philosophy, and why ecological dynamics and skill acquisition sit at the center of his approach to athlete development. Billy also shares how his long competitive career continues to influence the way he coaches today.Here's some notable highlights from our conversation:[6:20] — The Inspiration for The Inner Knight[9:40] — Parallels Between Writing and Competing[12:05] — Diving Into Mindfulness Practices[13:57] — Benefits from Meditation[15:58] — Mindful Minutes at Stanford[22:44] — What He Wishes Coaches Understood Earlier[25:38] — The Trap of Overcoaching[30:20] — Own Your 3-Foot World[32:43] — Lessons Learn from Athletes He's Coached[35:34] — Learning is a Maze, Not a Ladder[44:49] — Knowledge Of vs. Knowledge About [47:31] — Curiosity is a Superpower[51:58] — Starting the Coach Your Brains Out Podcast [56:55] — Common Patterns Amongst Great Coaches[1:07:16] — Improv and Partner Exercises for Training Presence[1:11:05] — Finding Balance Across Different Roles and Disciplines[1:14:23] — His Resilience and JourneyLearn More About Billy:https://www.instagram.com/billyketchallen/?hl=enTo learn more about the Coach Your Brains Out Podcast, listen to the show using this link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coach-your-brains-out/id1060183650To purchase and read Billy's books, check out this link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Billy-Ketch-Allen/author/B07JCJ9Z9T?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=2479b4fb-c143-46fb-b942-0bbcb19c386e Learn More About Zach:If you’re a collegiate or professional coach striving to win more and live better, I'm offering free discovery calls in December to share resources and offer support for your journey. You can sign up for a call here: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycallFor more practical tools and mindset stories, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/
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1:20:39
Adversity is Included in Every Commitment
We all love the good days, but our commitments are defined by how we handle the hard ones. This episode reflects on the importance of embracing not only the joyful parts of life, but the difficult ones too. 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/discoverycallFor more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/
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6:36
Push The Rock: A Lesson on Intentionality from Sisyphus
Most performers spend the majority of their lives in repetition in the form of practice, meetings, workouts, conversations, and responsibilities that cycle over and over every day. Today, we’re discussing how to bring more intentionality to these activities through one of my favorite lessons from the Greek mythology of Sisyphus. 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 sign up for a free discovery call to see how I can best support you: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycall
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7:20
Unsubscribe From Stagnation: The Hidden Cost of Staying the Same
This episode explores how old habits, beliefs, and routines “auto-renew” in our lives long after they’ve served their purpose. Zach shares a story about a Major League pitcher "unsubscribing" from a starting point in his delivery and implementing a small adjustment to accelerate his career. Listeners will learn why stagnation carries invisible costs, how leaders accidentally let their environment choose their direction, and how to run a performance “subscription audit” to create intentional growth heading into a new season. 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 sign up for a free discovery call to see how I can best support you: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycall
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9:51
Kibwe Johnson | Univ. of Maryland and USATF Head Throws Coach | “Athletes see everything, even what you think they don’t.”
Today's guest is two-time Olympian Kibwé Johnson. He joins the show with one of the most decorated careers in U.S. hammer history including being a five-time U.S. Champion, Pan American Games gold medalist and record holder, and a three-time NCAA Champion. He also holds the world record for the combined hammer–discus–weight throw and represented the United States at four World Championships.Kibwé has since built an impressive coaching path through IMG Academy, SPIRE Academy, Southeastern Louisiana, and now the University of Maryland, where he serves as Throws Coach. He was also the USA Track & Field Men’s Team Head Throws Coach for the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo.In our conversation, we talk about the artistry of throwing, creating the right conditions for athletes to find their individual movement, the Dao of the hammer, and how his own misalignments as an athlete shaped the coach he is today. We also explore the role of patience, curiosity, and fatherhood in his development as a leader.Here's some notable highlights from our conversation:[5:18] — The Artistry of Throwing [7:23] — "Creating the Conditions" for Athletes[10:36] — Learning to Embrace Individuality as a Thrower[16:54] — How Kibwe Would Coach His Younger Self[18:57] — Solving Movement Riddles [24:15] — The Dao of the Hammer[30:53] — The Yin & Yang for Effort[37:10] — Letting Go of Ego[46:32] — Kibwe's Process for Learning[49:48] — Creating the Conditions for Flow[53:14] — Most Important Mental Skill for Athletes[1:02:05] — Breaking Out of Plateaus[1:05:05] — Creating Something that Didn't Exist When He CompetedLearn More About Kibwe:To learn more about Kibwe's coaching and his work, I'd encourage you to follow his journey here: https://www.instagram.com/martillokibwe/?hl=en Learn More About 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 sign up for a free discovery call to see how I can best support you: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycall
The Threshold Lab is where “aha” moments and insights go to lift weights. Each episode cracks open a fundamental principle from the world of high performance and aims to transform how you think, work, and lead. Think of it like unlocking a door you’ve passed a hundred times, only to find it opens into a whole new way of thinking. If you're into mindset, growth, and the occasional mental mic drop, you're in the right lab.Zach Brandon is a coach, speaker, and thought leader blending principles from psychology, coaching, and high performance to empower others toward personal and professional excellence.
New Zealand