The Threshold Lab
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.
The Threshold Lab
Cindy Bristow | NFCA Hall of Fame Softball Coach | "We can get curious or we can get furious."
Cindy Bristow is one of the most accomplished figures in the sport of softball. A Hall of Fame coach, former NFCA President and pioneer in the growth of the game, Cindy has spent more than three decades shaping softball at every level.
She’s coached collegiately at Arizona State, New Mexico State, Wichita State, and most recently UC Riverside, where her pitchers have set program records and earned numerous awards. In the professional ranks, she led the Florida Wahoos to the WPSL title and was named Coach of the Year.
On the international stage, she helped build USA Softball’s inaugural Olympic gold medal team in 1996, directed Junior Olympic Softball for the ASA and later worked with the International Softball Federation to elevate the game in more than 120 countries. Beyond the dugout, Cindy has authored instructional books and videos, organized countless clinics, and served as a color analyst for ESPN.
In this episode, Cindy shares her perspective on helping players master struggle, how to lead through adversity, teaching athletes to reset by being curious rather than furious, and why empowering players to be their own coach on the field matters so much.
Here's some notable highlights from our conversation:
[9:36] — Shifting from Arrogance to Humility as a Coach
[12:50] — Helping Players Master Struggle
[16:18] — Getting Curious vs. Furious
[21:58] — Teaching Players to Coach Themselves
[24:25] — Fostering Belief in Players
[30:07] — Defining Confidence
[35:00] — The Knowing-Doing Gap
[41:30] — Making Practice More Game-Like
[47:12] — Leading Amidst Losing
[52:41] — Recharging as a Leader
[1:01:06] — Being a Lifelong Student
[1:09:26] — Advice for Next Generation of Coaches
More Resources from Zach:
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- If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to reach out anytime to see how I can best serve you: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-brandon-40169573/
