Coaching Culture

Zach Brandon spent years inside one of the most pressure-filled environments in professional sports. The biggest thing he took away was not about performance. It was about connection.In this first conversation with Zach, JP sits down with the former Head of Mental Performance and Coach Development for the Arizona Diamondbacks, on staff during their 2023 World Series run, to explore what he learned about servant leadership, building genuine relationships across a roster, and the principle most leaders quietly overlook: go see the work. Zach and JP also get honest about the cost of diluted focus and why an overused strength can quietly become your biggest limitation.This one is for any coach who has felt spread too thin, wondered whether athletes really trust them, or needed a reminder that the most powerful question you can ask is: what do you need from me today?Chapters(00:00) Intro(03:20) Fatherhood and New Direction(05:37) World Series and Arrival Fallacy(08:34) What Great Leadership Looks Like(11:28) Values: Connect, Impact, Grow(15:42) Permission to Slow Down(18:56) Building Trust Across Generations(20:55) The Pat Riley Connection Story(22:53) Mapping Relationships(24:38) Asking Veterans for Advice(28:47) Player-Led Meetings(30:42) Diluted Focus, Diluted Results(35:45) Go See the WorkTOC 3-2-13 Quotes | 2 Questions | 1 ResourceYour fast-track to this episode's most actionable ideas."I got a lot better as a leader when I showed up every day from a space of like, hey, how can I serve you?"— Zach Brandon"Diluted focus produces diluted results."— Zach Brandon"Letting each person you come into contact with be the expert on themselves — and allowing them to share their expertise."— Zach Brandon2 Questions for Your TeamQ1: If you rated your relationship with every athlete on your roster from 1 to 5, where are the gaps — and what is one move you could make this week to close the most important one?Q2: When is the last time you asked one of your athletes for advice? How might doing that more intentionally change the dynamic in your program?1 Resource to Go DeeperWin More, Live Better — podcast by Zach BrandonOne of JP's handful of go-to podcast subscriptions. The episode featuring former Washington football coach Chris Peterson is the one that first caught JP's attention. Find it and all of Zach's work at zachbrandoncoaching.com.Visit zachbrandoncoaching.comKey TakeawaysServant leadership is a daily choice, not a personality traitYou cannot build deep connection without a systemAsking for advice builds more trust than giving itDiluted focus produces diluted resultsGo see the workAn overused strength becomes a limitationGet the notes and tools:tocculture.comJoin TOC Coach — community, courses, and live coaching:tocculture.comBetter Coaches. Better Leaders. Better Culture.

Dr. Jody Carrington says the most vulnerable emotion on the planet is not fear or grief. It is joy.In part two of her conversation with JP, Dr. Jody Carrington gets specific about what it means to regulate yourself before you can lead anyone else, why joy requires every defense to be down, and why she collects information before she directs a hard conversation.This one is for any coach who has ever felt calm on paper but tight in the jaw, and who wants tools that work in the middle of practice, not just in theory.Chapters(00:00) Intro & Welcome Back(02:04) Fragmented Attention, Real Hacks(05:46) Go In, Go Out, Repeat(09:38) Ask What Happened, Not Whats Wrong(11:11) Who You Really Work For(12:26) Why Joy Is the Most Vulnerable Emotion(14:24) Waving at Everyone on Main Street(20:57) Collect Then Direct(26:14) The Kid Nobody Wanted to Coach(28:29) Investing in the Hardest ParentsTOC 3-2-13 Quotes | 2 Questions | 1 ResourceYour fast-track to the episode's most actionable ideas."The most important people you work for are the ones you go home to."- Dr. Jody Carrington"The most vulnerable emotion on the planet is joy."- Dr. Jody Carrington"Collect and then direct. It's not if I'm going to give that feedback, it's when."- Dr. Jody Carrington2 Questions for Your TeamQ1: Where in your day is your jaw locked and your shoulders up before you ever set foot in front of your team, and what would it look like to drop them on purpose before you walk in?Q2: Which two players are you not building a real relationship with right now, and what is one specific thing you could learn about them this week?1 Resource to Go DeeperDr. Jody CarringtonFree videos, articles, and tools built around the same ideas she unpacked in this episode: regulation, connection, and showing up as your best self before you lead anyone else.Visit drjodycarrington.com hereKey TakeawaysRegulate Yourself Before You Coach Anyone ElseThe People You Work For Are the Ones You Go Home ToAsk What Happened, Not What's WrongJoy Is the Most Vulnerable Emotion on a TeamCollect Before You DirectRelationships With Parents Cut the Battle in HalfGet the notes and tools:tocculture.comJoin TOC Coach - community, courses, and live coaching:tocculture.comBetter Coaches. Better Leaders. Better Culture.

Is your best leader always your best teammate? JP Nerbun, Betsy Butterick, and Nate Sanderson are not so sure, and the answer says a lot about how you build culture this season.This episode continues an ongoing conversation around JP's new book, The Culture Captain, with the group digging into Level Two: leading yourself before you ever try to lead anyone else. They unpack why the chapter on effort was the hardest one JP wrote, what separates a Steph Curry from a Caitlin Clark on the leader versus teammate question, and why so many athletes hold back effort out of fear of being labeled a tryhard.Whether you are coaching the most obsessed competitor on your roster or the kid who just wants to enjoy the sport, this conversation will change how you think about effort, identity, and what it actually takes to lead yourself first.Chapters(00:00) Intro(01:02) Why Level Two Was Hardest to Write(03:26) Tom Brady & Raising Others 5-10%(09:13) Standards, Buy-In & Judgment(13:28) Caitlin Clark & Being Yourself(17:55) Great Leader vs. Great Teammate(24:37) One Behavior Every Leader Needs(28:30) Why Athletes Avoid Competing Hard(32:44) From Victim to Creator(40:55) The Hardest Part of Leading YourselfTOC 3-2-13 Quotes | 2 Questions | 1 ResourceYour fast-track to the episode's most actionable ideas."Two things can be true. I can uphold the standard and it increases the value or the connection with my teammate."- Betsy Butterick"My performance does not determine my worth or value in this world."- Nate Sanderson"It's not any single leadership behavior that unlocks leading yourself. It's putting in the work on ourselves, knowing that this is a lifelong journey."- JP Nerbun2 Questions for Your TeamQ1: When you rate your own effort this season, are you rating it the way your teammates and coaches would, or the way you wish they would?Q2: Is there a part of this season where you are telling yourself a victim story? What is one choice you actually have right now?1 Resource to Go DeeperThe Culture Captain by JP NerbunJP's newly launched book breaks leadership into three levels: knowing yourself, leading yourself, and leading others. This episode digs into Level Two, covering responsibility, effort, authenticity, compete, mental fitness, and selflessness.Visit tocculture.com hereKey TakeawaysLeading yourself is not a formula. It is a personal journey.A great leader is not always a great teammate.Curiosity beats correction when a leader cannot reserve judgment.The fear of being a tryhard is quietly shutting down effort.Moving an athlete from victim to creator starts with naming a choice.The hardest part of leading yourself is the moment you let yourself down.Get the notes and tools:tocculture.comJoin TOC Coach - community, courses, and live coaching:tocculture.comBetter Coaches. Better Leaders. Better Culture.

Most coaches spend their careers shaping athletes. Rustin Dodd and Elise Devlin spend theirs learning from them — and what they've found might change how you coach.Rustin and Elise write NY Times feature, The Peak for The Athletic, a section devoted to the mental side of elite sports. In this episode with JP Nerbun, they unpack what a year of "I Tried" journalism has taught them: Kobe's silence practice, Michael Phelps' freestyle journaling, Buzz Williams writing four to five letters a day, an Olympian who approaches every failure with childlike curiosity, and a reminder from David Ortiz about what it actually means to bounce back. The thread running through all of it: curiosity.For coaches who want to understand what's going on inside their athletes — and maybe inside themselves — before it becomes a problem.Chapters(00:00) Intro: JP on The Athletic's Peak(02:39) Ted Lasso's Real-Life Inspiration(07:41) Elise: D1 Swimmer to Peak Journalist(11:48) The Performance Info Gap(13:01) How The Peak Section Was Born(16:18) What The Peak Is Not(19:20) I Tried: Living Athletes' Habits(21:31) Silence, Emotions, and Journaling(23:13) How Athletes Find Their Rituals(25:41) Curiosity: The #1 Athlete Trait(26:41) Buzz Williams Letter-Writing(28:38) Gratitude and Failure With Curiosity(30:53) The Power of Saying Yes(35:59) The Pat Riley Conditioning Test(36:31) 17s Story: Hardship as ConfidenceTOC 3-2-13 Quotes | 2 Questions | 1 ResourceYour fast-track to the episode's most actionable ideas."That feeling of somebody saying yes to me is so powerful. And I oftentimes try to think about: how do I do a version of that? How do I say yes to people?"— Rustin Dodd"I thought about it and I was like — I guess I don't have silence."— Elise Devlin"I view all my failures with childlike curiosity."— Olympian Olivia Smoliga, cited by Elise Devlin2 Questions for Your TeamQ1: When something goes wrong in practice or a game, is your first instinct to fix it, blame it, or get curious about it? Which of those responses is actually coachable?Q2: What is one mental tool or daily habit your athletes don't know about — and when did you last share it with them?1 Resource to Go DeeperThe Peak by Rustin Dodd and Elise Devlin | The AthleticThe Athletic's section devoted to the mental side of elite sports. The "I Tried" series is essential reading for any coach curious about what elite performance looks like from the inside.Visit The Athletic hereKey TakeawaysThe Best Athletes Are Obsessively CuriousReflection Teaches More Than Experience AloneSilence Is a Performance ToolTreat Failure Like a ScientistGratitude Does Real WorkSay Yes More Than You Think You ShouldGet the notes and tools:tocculture.comJoin TOC Coach — community, courses, and live coaching:tocculture.comBetter Coaches. Better Leaders. Better Culture.

What does it mean to truly know yourself — not perform yourself, not brand yourself for public approval, but honestly know who you are at your core?JP Nerbun, Betsy Butterick, and Nate Sanderson explore that question in this roundtable, the first in a four-part series on JP's new book, The Culture Captain. Betsy shares the story of an athlete and what she filled in her personal definition led to an eye-opening statement about being "enough". This quiet act of self-definition opens a deeper conversation about identity, enoughness, and what it costs to resist the pressure to brand yourself for the world's approval. Nate brings a hard-won insight from a facilitation with student-athletes that challenges a core assumption most coaches hold about leadership readiness. JP is honest about the gap between success and fulfillment — and about the dark side of purpose itself, how even meaningful work can become obligation when fulfillment is measured in external terms. Betsy's Championship Soup exercise from a workshop at Stanford with Tara Vanderbeer gives every coach a practical way in. This is the beginning of a longer conversation — one level at a time.If the question "who are you?" has ever felt harder to answer than it should, this one is for you.Chapters(00:00) Intro(01:35) The Culture Captain Series Format(03:12) When Were You Invited to Know Yourself?(09:09) The "Child of God" Athlete and Enoughness(11:26) Do Athletes Know What Leadership Is?(12:27) Nate's Facilitation: What Athletes Revealed(16:06) Defining Leadership — No Clean Answer(20:01) Leadership as Wielded Influence(22:08) The Magnetic Personality Story(28:53) Leadership Is a Boat Anyone Can Board(30:58) Core Values — How Did You Find Yours?(35:23) The Soup Supper Exercise(37:15) Championship Soup at Stanford(40:43) Success Without Fulfillment(41:51) Division I Basketball vs. 200km Ultra(45:30) Identity Prison vs. Identity House(46:18) JP's Vulnerable Moment on FulfillmentTOC 3-2-13 Quotes | 2 Questions | 1 ResourceYour fast-track to the episode's most actionable ideas."Fulfillment has to be defined by you, and the meaning has to be made intentionally rather than just by what we see and what we hear."— Nate Sanderson"When I'm at my best, when I feel most at peace, when I feel most content, when I feel most truly myself — look back at those moments. And then ask: how do I bring that forward and offer it as a gift to my team, to the world?"— JP Nerbun"I believe leadership is a boat that anyone can board — if you have the desire to develop that awareness, to know yourself, to use your influence on purpose."— Betsy Butterick2 Questions for Your TeamQ1: When was the first time someone truly invited you to define who you are — not describe yourself to others, but honestly articulate who you are at your core? How has that shaped the way you invite athletes into self-discovery?Q2: Think of a recent coaching achievement. On a scale of 1–10, how fulfilled did it make you feel? What does that number tell you about whether you are living in your values?1 Resource to Go DeeperThe Culture Captain by JP NerbunThis episode explores Level 1 of JP's new book — Know Yourself. It's the foundation on which every leadership conversation is built. Get the book and episode tools at tocculture.com.Visit tocculture.comKey TakeawaysYou Can't Lead Others If You Don't Know YourselfLeadership Is Wielded Influence — Use It on PurposeYoung Athletes Often Need a "Level Zero" Before Level OneSelf-Definition Is an Act of ResistanceValues Are Unearthed, Not InventedSuccess Without Fulfillment Is the Warning Sign — and Success Is Often Defined for UsGet the notes and tools:tocculture.comJoin TOC Coach — community, courses, and live coaching:tocculture.comBetter Coaches. Better Leaders. Better Culture.

The Art of Communication: Finding Your Voice as a CoachJP Nerbun sits down with co-host Betsy Butterick to explore how intentional communication transforms athlete relationships, team culture, and coaching identity.TOC 3-2-1: 3 Quotes, 2 Questions, 1 Resource3 Quotes Worth Writing Down"Anytime someone says 'that's just who I am,' what immediately comes up for me is — no, that's who you've been. You get to choose who you get to be in the next moment." — Betsy Butterick"If we hope to teach them, we first need to reach them. It is arguably much easier for one person — the coach — to shift how they communicate than it is to try to change an entire generation." — Betsy Butterick"When you speak quietly, people need to come closer, lean in. That was exactly the space I wanted to coach athletes in." — Betsy Butterick2 Questions for Your TeamWhen you communicate with your athletes before a big moment, are you trying to inspire them — or genuinely educate and invite them into something? What's the difference for your team?Are there phrases or habits in your coaching communication that fall under "that's just who I am"? What would it look like to ask instead: Is this who I want to be?1 Resource to Go DeeperKids These Days by Betsy Butterick — the practical communication guide for coaches working with today's athletes. Packed with immediately usable frameworks, real-world stories, and a resource section built to last.Visit: betsybutterick.comKey TakeawaysCommunication is a craft, not a personality trait. Betsy's communication didn't come from natural talent — it came from decades of intentional reps: journaling, coaching thousands of young athletes, and a relentless curiosity about language. The implication for every coach: this is buildable.Inspiring a room and inviting athletes in are not the same thing. Betsy's goal is never to inspire — it's to educate. But the best teaching carries emotional charge, and the question you ask after a lesson is what bridges information to behavior change. Don't just tell them. Ask them what they got from it.Yelling is a tool — use it like one. In a decade of coaching, Betsy raised her voice about seven times — and believes every player could still tell you exactly why. Coaches who rarely yell make every raised voice meaningful. Coaches who yell constantly give athletes nothing to read."That's just who I am" is a pattern, not an identity. When coaches or athletes use that phrase, it closes the door on growth. The reframe Betsy offers: that's who you've been — not who you have to be. Adapting your communication style isn't lowering your standards; it's what makes holding high standards possible.Accountability requires co-creation, not just enforcement. Most accountability conversations fail because expectations were never truly shared — they were just announced. When athletes help build the standard, they're far more likely to hold each other to it. Peer accountability only works after shared understanding exists.Action Items for Leaders and CoachesAudit Your Volume: Track how often you raise your voice this week. Is it a tool — or a habit you haven't examined?End With a Question: After your next team talk, close with one question that invites athletes to reflect on what they just heard.Spot the Pattern: Notice when you or your athletes say "that's just who I am." Replace it with: "That's who I've been — is it who I want to be?"Co-Create One Standard: Pick one expectation you've been enforcing alone. Build shared understanding around it with your athletes this week.ConnectGet episode notes and team culture tools: tocculture.comJoin the TOC Coach community (free): tocculture.comBetsy Butterick — blog, book, and resources: betsybutterick.comIf this episode was helpful, share it with a coach in your life who is working on their communication. And if you haven't already, subscribe so you never miss an episode of the Coaching Culture Podcast.

What does transformational leadership actually look like in practice? Father Mike Schmitz, 15-year director of the Newman Center at UMD, sits down with coaches to share the leadership principles, culture-building strategies, and mentorship frameworks that have transformed thousands of lives on a secular college campus.Whether you're a coach, team leader, manager, or anyone invested in building high-performance culture, this conversation is packed with actionable wisdom on setting priorities, establishing boundaries, leading with authenticity, and developing the next generation of leaders.IN THIS EPISODE:How to identify your one true priority (and stop pretending you have many)The "rock analogy" for protecting your closest relationships during demanding seasonsWhy saying NO with conviction is an act of leadership — not selfishnessThe 3 pillars Father Mike used to build a transformational culture from scratchThe FACT (and FACE) framework for identifying and developing emerging leadersSmall group leadership: how to structure teams within teamsHow to lead authentically in a secular environment without compromising your valuesWhy Gen Z craves in-person connection more than any generation before themThe concept of "spiritual fatherhood" and what it means for coaches and mentors⏱️ CHAPTERS:00:00 — Introduction: Coaching through busy seasons of life02:45 — The Rock Analogy: Protecting your family during demanding seasons06:30 — Defining your TRUE priority (it's singular, not plural)10:15 — How to say NO without guilt — and why conviction sets you free15:40 — Knowing your limits: the wisdom of boundaries in leadership19:00 — Building a transformational culture from scratch (the 3 pillars)25:10 — Seen, Known, and Loved: the culture framework that changed everything29:30 — Bottom-up leadership: creating a culture where people correct you33:00 — Small group leadership: the FACT framework for identifying leaders39:20 — The Jenna story: how one person's faithfulness sparked a movement44:45 — Leading Gen Z: why in-person connection is the ultimate differentiator49:10 — How to create psychological safety so people speak freely53:00 — Spiritual fatherhood: reframing your role as a coach or mentor58:30 — Leading with faith in a secular environment🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS:📖 The Bible in a Year with Father Mike Schmitz: https://www.youtube.com/@UCzUZD3iCxkHmwYkCqYn8fBw 🏛️ UMD Newman Center: https://bulldogcatholic.org/📚 Stephen Covey's "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" (mentioned): https://www.amazon.com/Habits-Highly-Effective-People-Powerful/dp/0743269519🎓 FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students): https://focus.org/🏆 Subscribe for more leadership and coaching conversations: https://www.youtube.com/@UC3vIljCBzwHcPyVIx9kiHvw transformational leadership, coaching leadership, building team culture, mentorship, leadership development, how to build culture, high performance teams, athlete development, Gen Z leadership, setting boundaries as a leader, how to say no, priority setting, small group leadership, servant leadership, authentic leadership, coach mentorship, spiritual leadership, team building strategies, leadership in sports, culture building, how to develop leaders, Father Mike Schmitz, Newman Center, FOCUS ministry, college coaching📌 If you found this valuable, share it with a coach, leader, or mentor in your life.🔔 Subscribe and hit the bell so you never miss an episode on leadership, culture, and coaching.

Taking hard feedback is one of the most underrated leadership skills — and most of us are doing it wrong.In this episode, JP, Betsy, and Nate get real about the emotional side of criticism: why feedback feels so personal for coaches and leaders, how to regulate before you respond, and the mindset shift that turns brutal feedback into your greatest tool for growth.Whether you're a coach, athletic director, team leader, or anyone who's ever been stung by a harsh comment — this conversation is for you.🎙️ In this episode, we cover:→ Why feedback hits differently when your work is your identity→ How to regulate your emotional response before reacting→ The difference between feedback as a verdict vs. feedback as information→ Practical tools: exit interviews, anonymous polling, and mid-season check-ins→ When to stand firm — and when to own it and grow→ How small language shifts completely change how feedback lands⬇️ SUBSCRIBE for weekly episodes on coaching culture, leadership development, and team building.💬 Join the TOC Coach Community → https://www.skool.com/toccoach/about⏱️ CHAPTERS0:00 Cold open & welcome2:36 What makes feedback so hard to take?3:03 Betsy: when feedback feels personal4:55 Nate: the paranoia about not knowing what's coming5:48 JP: proximity, relationship & the 2015 turning point7:33 Positive feedback experiences — what actually worked9:08 How your response to feedback shapes future feedback10:20 Betsy's coaching program breakthrough moment12:48 What to do when feedback feels like an attack14:30 Real coaching example: helping a coach put it down16:41 First steps when you're triggered — regulate first19:00 Own the hard feedback before it owns you21:04 The complexity of coaching decisions: playing time & perspective23:38 Is it true? Learning from feedback regardless of the answer25:01 Feedback as information, not a verdict26:37 The language shift that changes everything28:13 Rewriting harsh feedback so you can actually hear it30:51 How to ask for better feedback from your team33:07 Setting expectations early & capturing in-season intelligence35:45 Normalizing feedback & modeling how to receive it37:44 The Man in the Arena — and what Teddy got right (and wrong)40:17 When to stand firm vs. when to fold43:08 How going through hard feedback builds conviction🔍 KEYWORDSleadership development | coaching culture | how to take feedback | receiving criticism | coach mindset | athletic leadership | team culture | growth mindset for coaches | sports leadership podcast | feedback in the workplace | leadership skills | handling negative feedback | transformational coaching | emotional intelligence for leaders | coaching podcast#CoachingCulture #LeadershipDevelopment #CoachMindset #HardFeedback #AthleticLeadership #GrowthMindset #SportsLeadership #TeamCulture #TransformationalCoaching #CoachingPodcast

What does it take to build a truly flourishing team? NYT bestselling author Daniel Coyle (The Culture Code, The Talent Code) returns to share insights from his powerful new book Flourish — and this conversation will change how you think about leadership, team culture, and what it means to matter.We explore the difference between belonging and mattering, why psychological safety isn't enough, and how the most transformational leaders don't motivate — they architect meaningful moments. From a small Vermont town that produced 11 Olympians, to the New England Patriots' Four H's exercise, to a $90 million deli in Michigan, Coyle unpacks the hidden machinery behind teams that truly thrive.Whether you're a sports coach, executive leader, or team builder, this episode delivers simple, actionable strategies you can use today.🔔 Subscribe so you don't miss Part 2 — where we unpack the difference between safe spaces and brave spaces, and why we're getting psychological safety wrong.📩 Get the show notes + free resources: https://tocculture.com🧠 Join TOC Coach: https://www.skool.com/toccoach/about📚 Daniel Coyle's new book Flourish: https://a.co/d/058n8AqK📚 The Culture Code (Ep 245 & 246): https://youtu.be/Zlero0ksd3g?si=6JvF9k6U387X7YNR🗓️ Leadership Retreat (April 2026): https://tocculture.com🏆 In This Episode You'll Learn:Why mattering is more powerful than belonging — and what most coaches get wrongThe Four H's Exercise used by the New England Patriots to build instant connectionHow the "emptiness epidemic" is quietly killing your team's performanceWhy answers divide teams and questions unite themThe simple leadership habit of creating meaningful moments (without a course or a program)How vulnerability builds trust — not the other way aroundWhat a $90 million deli can teach every coach about contribution and cultureWhy pausing is the most productive thing a high-performance team can doThe difference between flourishing and performance — and why top teams that skip this fall apart⏱️ CHAPTERS00:00 — Intro: Why The Culture Code and Flourish Changed Everything03:24 — Interview Begins: Why Flourish Is More Personal Than Coyle's Other Books04:17 — The "Emptiness Epidemic" — Success Without Fulfillment07:09 — Why This Book Is So Timely: We Only Become Our Best Through Others10:01 — How Flourish Builds on The Culture Code11:47 — Flourishing vs. Thriving: Is There a Difference?12:37 — The Core Question: What Is "Aliveness"?15:35 — Mattering vs. Belonging: The Crucial Distinction17:15 — What Coaches Miss: Creating Belonging Without Mattering19:46 — Steve Kerr, the Warriors & the Video Intern Who Changed a Game20:09 — Mattering Creates Contribution — Not Just Safety22:05 — Creating an Oasis: How to Build a Village, Not a Freeway23:20 — What Teams Actually Crave: Family, Brotherhood, Sisterhood26:50 — The Coach as Architect of Meaningful Moments27:22 — Why Every Coach Should Learn Facilitation (and Executive Coaching)28:55 — Vulnerability Builds Trust — Not the Other Way Around30:41 — Does Your Schedule Facilitate Meaningful Relationships?31:20 — Mattering Moments Can Be Created On the Fly31:42 — Good Leaders Ask Deep Questions They Don't Know the Answer To32:15 — The "Connective Energy Business": What Great Teams Are Really Doing32:57 — Answers Drive Us Apart. Questions Bring Us Together.34:01 — Coming in Part 2: Safe Spaces vs. Brave Spaces & Getting Psychological Safety Right🔑 Keywords / TopicsLeadership development | Team culture | High-performance teams | Daniel Coyle | The Culture Code | Flourish book | Psychological safety | Team building | Executive coaching | Sports coaching | Mattering vs belonging | Meaningful leadership | Team facilitation | Coaching culture | Community building | Employee engagement | Team cohesion | Leadership podcast | Vulnerability in leadership | Sports psychology

🤝 Join TOC Coach for FREE — Better Coaches, Better Leaders, Better Culture: https://www.skool.com/toccoachWhat does it really mean to lead with purpose? In Part 2 of our conversation with Justin Simpkins — founder of Prairie Hockey Academy (PHA), host of the Grit and Growth Podcast, and author of Significance Over Success — we go deep on transformational leadership, building character through sport, and what it takes to grow as a leader, parent, and human being. Whether you're a coach, parent, athlete, executive, or anyone pursuing meaningful growth, this episode is packed with practical wisdom and honest conversation.📚 RESOURCES MENTIONED 📗 Significance Over Success by Justin Simpkins & Shane Sowden→ https://www.amazon.com/Significance-Over-Success-Redefining-Obsessed/dp/B0G3KBGBSK 🎙️ Grit and Growth Podcast (hosted by Justin Simpkins & Shane Sowden)→ https://www.youtube.com/@UCZbN7FpyDHLRQomRWst0Y0A 📬 GET THE FREE EPISODE NOTES:Subscribe to the Team Culture Toolbox at 👉 https://tocculture.com/culture-toolboxGet weekly thoughts on leadership, culture, and coaching delivered to your inbox. 🏫 READY TO GO DEEPER?Join the TOC Coach Community (free) or unlock Premium Access — https://www.skool.com/toccoach/about→ 12 full coaching courses→ Live trainings & office hours with JP→ The Playing Time System Course (eliminate playing time drama for good)🔑 KEY TOPICS & LEADERSHIP CONCEPTS COVERED ✅ Transformational Leadership in Sports✅ Character Development Through Athletics✅ Level 5 Leadership (Jim Collins / Good to Great)✅ Self-Awareness & Personal Growth✅ Purpose-Driven Coaching✅ Building a Winning Culture✅ Grit, Resilience & Mental Toughness✅ Significance Over Success Mindset✅ Youth Sports Leadership Development✅ Habits, Burnout & Leading Yourself First✅ Team Manifesto & Co-Creating Core Values✅ Coaching Youth Athletes with Integrity#leadershipdevelopment #transformationalleadership #sportsleadership #coachingleadership #YouthSportsCoach #gritandgrowth #SignificanceOverSuccess #purposedrivenleadership #characterdevelopment #Level5Leadership #mentaltoughness #goodtogreat #hockeyleadership #athleteleadership #personalgrowthpodcast #coachingculture #BuildingCulture #leadershippodcast #sportsmotivation #growthmindset

Can you build a high-performance culture if you're not developing yourself as a coach? In this episode of the Coaching Culture Podcast, JP is joined by Tyler and Mark from SAVI Basketball for a powerful conversation on coaching competency, leadership credibility, and why your effectiveness as a coach directly impacts your team culture.We dig into why "culture eats strategy for breakfast" — but bad coaching makes you want to throw up. If your players can't trust that you'll make them better, no amount of team-building activities will save your culture.🔑 In this episode, you'll learn:Why coaching competency is the foundation of team cultureHow hypocrisy from leadership silently erodes everything you're buildingWhy you must be believable as a coach before culture can thriveThe difference between a Level 1 and Level 3 cultureWhere to start if your coaching is the ceiling on your team's performanceHow to lead yourself first before leading others⚠️ This is Part 1 of a 2-part conversation. Part 2 drops March 17th on the Savvy Basketball YouTube channel — link below.📌 LINKS MENTIONED:🏀 SAVI Basketball YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@SAVI-Coaching🎙️ Tyler's episode (Ep. 217) → https://youtu.be/HrkA8g3e8CA?si=Ays8sAvSVzcFpgnx🎙️ Mark's episode (Ep. 189 – Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast) → https://youtu.be/wbOtCjugmbw?si=Rd35ydLvRKMpXgtL👥 Join TOC Coach Community → https://www.skool.com/toccoach🎧 Part 2 on SAVI Basketball (March 17th) → https://www.youtube.com/@SAVI-Coaching⏱️ CHAPTERS:0:00 – Introduction & Guest Overview1:08 – The Big Question: Does Coaching Competency Affect Culture?1:52 – Where to Find Part 2 (Savvy Basketball)3:02 – Mark's Take: When Does Incompetency Become a Culture Problem?4:04 – Level 1 vs. Level 3 Culture Explained5:27 – Tyler: "Bad Coaching Makes You Want to Throw Up"6:09 – The Believability Factor: If Coaches Aren't Credible, Culture Dies7:40 – What Ted Lasso Gets Right About Coaching Competency8:34 – Why Culture Without Craft Is Just Kumbaya9:25 – Standards + Relationships = Performance & Experience10:07 – Hypocrisy Kills Culture From the Top12:17 – The Two Questions Every Player Asks Their Coach13:13 – Where Should a Coach Start to Get Better?14:07 – Bob Starkey & The Power of Becoming World-Class at One Thing16:01 – Mark's Consulting Insight: Peeling Back the Layers16:59 – Start With Standards: Leading Yourself First17:18 – Outro & TOC Coach Community🏆 ABOUT THE COACHING CULTURE PODCASTThe Coaching Culture Podcast helps coaches become better leaders, build stronger team cultures, and grow as coaches. Hosted by JP, with guests from across sports and leadership.#CoachingCulture #LeadershipDevelopment #CoachingTips #TeamCulture #HighPerformance #SportsLeadership #BasketballCoaching #CoachDevelopment #SAVIBasketball #CultureBuilding #LeadershipCoaching #AthletesDevelopment #SportsCoaching #WinningCulture #CoachingMindset

🤝 Join TOC Coach for FREE — Better Coaches, Better Leaders, Better Culture: https://www.skool.com/toccoachWhat does it really mean for an athlete to matter — not just belong? In this episode, we sit down with Sammy Lander, the world's first Substitution Coach, to explore one of the most overlooked challenges in team sports: developing, empowering, and leading the athletes who aren't in the starting lineup.Sammy breaks down the psychology of the substitute role, why bench players disengage, and what coaches at every level can do right now to build a culture where every player — starter or finisher — is bought in, prepared, and performing.Whether you coach youth sports, high school, college, or at the professional level, this conversation is packed with practical leadership lessons that go far beyond the sideline.📩 Get weekly culture tools delivered to your inbox — subscribe to the Team Culture Toolbox: https://tocculture.com/culture-toolbox💡 In this episode, you'll learn:→ The difference between belonging and mattering — and why it changes everything→ How to have honest, trust-building conversations with athletes who aren't starting→ Why vague language like "go win us the game" quietly destroys bench performance→ What basketball gets right about substitute roles that football still hasn't figured out→ How to use the bench as a mirror for your team's culture→ What the "Substitution Union" is and how to build one with your team📖 Get Sammy's book Finishers:https://www.amazon.com/Finishers-Sammy-Lander/dp/1917380062🐦 Follow Sammy on X:https://x.com/sammy_landerr⏱ Chapters:0:00 – Introduction & Welcome1:45 – Mattering vs. Belonging: What Athletes Really Want6:30 – Giving Substitutes a Process to Follow11:00 – Real Example: A Player Who Went 7 Games Without Playing16:20 – How to Convince a High-Level Athlete to Embrace a Bench Role22:10 – What Basketball Gets Right About Substitute Roles27:00 – Coaching Mistakes: Vague Language & Low Expectations33:15 – The Role of the Substitution Coach Explained39:40 – How Subs Reveal the Truth About Your Team Culture45:00 – What a Great Sideline Looks Like & The Substitution Unioncoaching leadership, athlete development, team culture, sports leadership, how to motivate bench players, substitute coaching, player development, coaching psychology, team building, leadership for coaches, bench players, role players in sports, coaching communication, high performance culture, sports coaching tips#CoachingCulture #SportsLeadership #AthleteDevelopment #CoachingTips #TeamCulture #PlayerDevelopment #SammyLander #Finishers #SportsCoaching #LeadershipDevelopment

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Brad Stulberg, bestselling author of "The Way of Excellence," as he shares groundbreaking insights on authentic leadership, team building, and sustainable high performance.Join TOC Coach for Free! https://www.skool.com/toccoachSubscribe to the Team Culture Toolbox: https://tocculture.com/culture-toolbox 🔑 KEY LEADERSHIP TOPICS:✅ Excellence Framework: Discover why true excellence exists at the intersection of mastery (concrete skill development) and mattering (connection beyond yourself)✅ Team Leadership Strategies: Learn how to create belonging and purpose for every team member, even those without competitive opportunities✅ Process Over Outcomes: Actionable coaching methods to shift athlete focus from external validation to internal growth✅ Values-Driven Leadership: Why aligning actions with core values creates sustainable excellence and prevents burnout✅ The Finite and Infinite Game: Balancing short-term performance goals with long-term personal development✅ Managing External Pressures: Practical approaches for addressing parent expectations, social media influence, and performance culture✅ Goal Setting Reimagined: The three-tier framework - outcome goals, process goals, and person goals✅ Leadership Under Pressure: How elite coaches like Steve Kerr and Greg Popovich maintain perspective while competing at the highest level✅ Purpose vs. Values: Why values provide a more consistent foundation than purpose, especially during challenging times⏱️ EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:00:00 - Introduction: The Way of Excellence03:15 - Defining Mastery and Mattering08:42 - Team Sports vs Individual Pursuits12:30 - Creating Mattering for All Team Members18:15 - Process Over Outcomes in Practice24:50 - Finite and Infinite Games Framework29:40 - Addressing External Pressures (Parents, Social Media)35:20 - Goal Setting: Outcome, Process, Person42:10 - Leadership Excellence: Steve Kerr Case Study48:35 - Values vs. Purpose in Leadership53:20 - Avoiding the Purpose Trap💡 LEADERSHIP INSIGHTS YOU'LL LEARN:• How to reward effort over results while still honoring the importance of winning• Building brain trusts and support systems for high-pressure environments• The importance of defining roles for every team member• Teaching athletes to hold competing truths simultaneously• Preventing burnout through values-based decision making• Creating championship cultures that prioritize joy and competition📚 ABOUT BRAD STULBERG:Brad Stulberg is a bestselling author, coach, and internationally known expert on human performance, well-being, and sustainable excellence. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Sports Illustrated, and Outside Magazine. Brad's previous books include "Peak Performance" and "The Practice of Groundedness."🔗 CONNECT & LEARN MORE:Brad Stulberg's Website: https://www.bradstulberg.com/"The Way of Excellence" Book: https://www.bradstulberg.com/booksBrad's Newsletter: https://thegrowtheq.com/Twitter/X: https://x.com/bstulbergInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradstulberg/Brad Stulberg on the Coaching Culture Podcast: Episode 333:https://youtu.be/53vl1XZ8lm0?si=5zeBbfumR7SOr42gEpisode 334: https://youtu.be/BHKG-RTxz0I?si=LdqQOowvSSlLFSzl🎯 WHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR:• Coaches at all levels (youth, high school, college, professional)• Athletic directors and sports administrators• Team leaders and managers in any industry• Parents of young athletes• Anyone interested in sustainable high performance• Leadership development professionals• Sports psychologists and mental performance coaches💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION:What resonated most with you from this episode? How do you balance process and outcomes in your leadership? Share your thoughts in the comments below!🔔 Don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the notification bell to stay updated on our latest leadership conversations!