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.
Episodes
106 episodes
Eat Your Own Dog Food
This episode explores the principle of practicing what you preach and backing up your words with actions. A leader's credibility depends not just on what they say, but whether or not they live by their words too. Drawing from research on social...
•
Episode 106
•
5:23
The Second Mountain
What happens when you reach the top and it doesn’t feel the way you thought it would? In this episode, we explore author David Brooks’ metaphor of the two mountains. The first mountain is about proving yourself. The second is about devoting you...
•
Episode 105
•
6:15
The Most Important Play? The Next One.
Miles Davis once said, “It’s not the note you play that’s the wrong note—it’s the note you play afterwards that makes it right or wrong.” In this episode, we'll explore how the “next note” principle helps athletes, coaches, and l...
•
Episode 104
•
4:17
Jim Carrey and His $10 Million-Dollar Check
When Jim Carrey was broke and unknown, he wrote himself a $10 million check and carried it in his wallet for a decade. But the check wasn’t just about money, it was about who he wanted to become. Ten years later, he earned a multi-million contr...
•
Episode 103
•
5:27
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.Sh...
•
Episode 102
•
1:18:35
Zoo vs. Jungle Tiger
What happens when a zoo tiger is dropped into the wild? It doesn’t survive. In this episode, we explore why the same principle applies to athletes: If games are the jungle, training must prepare you for it. I share a conversation with a college...
•
Episode 101
•
7:12
100 Episodes Later: 5 Lessons I’ve Learned So Far
For years, I waited to launch this podcast and stalled on starting this project. Now, 100 episodes later, I’m glad I finally hit publish. In this special episode, I reflect on five lessons I’ve learned from the process so far. Whether you’ve li...
•
Episode 100
•
8:49
Learn the Lesson, Leave the Event
Why do some people get stuck in the past while others keep moving forward? The answer often lies in how we process events. In this episode, I share a powerful phrase from Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt: “Learn the lesson, leave th...
•
Episode 99
•
6:40
Empathy Without Excuses
In this episode, I share a personal story from my work with a professional baseball pitcher who was stuck at a plateau. In an attempt to show empathy, I made the mistake of lowering the standard he had set for himself. That moment taught me an ...
•
Episode 98
•
5:27
Relationship Trees
We live in the most "connected" era in history and yet loneliness is at an all-time high. In sports and life, success is not a solo journey and it's essential for us all to develop strong connections with others. Using redwood trees as a metaph...
•
Episode 97
•
6:53
Adam Krikorian | Team USA Women's Water Polo Head Coach | "Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing"
Adam Krikorian is one of the most accomplished coaches in Olympic history. Since being named head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Water Polo Team in 2009, he has guided the program to unprecedented success: Three consecutive Olympic gold med...
•
Episode 96
•
1:30:11
Multiply by Zero
What’s the one thing in your life that could multiply everything by zero? We all have "zeros" (e.g. hidden habits, blind spots, or flaws) that cancel out our progress and sabotage our ability to be successful. In this episode, we unpack the "Mu...
•
Episode 95
•
7:03
Run From Love, Not Fear
David Roche is an elite ultrarunner and coach who recently set a new course record at the Leadville 100 competition just weeks after a disappointing DNF at Western States. In this episode, we reflect on what his story can teach us about readine...
•
Episode 94
•
5:29
Write the Last Scene First
What can a suspense novelist teach us about sports and leadership? In this episode, we highlight a pair of lessons from John Grisham’s approach to writing thrillers. The first will examine how every great story features a hero that is burdened ...
•
Episode 93
•
5:27
Position vs. Trajectory
This episode is a reminder to not obsess over where you are and start focusing on where you're headed. We examine the difference between your position and your trajectory and why the latter might be a better indication of your growth. You can’t...
•
Episode 92
•
5:29
Joanne McCallie | Former D1 Head Women's Basketball Coach & Author | "You Can't Sell Your Soul as a Coach"
Joanne “Coach P” McCallie stands as one of the most accomplished coaches in women’s college basketball history. Over 28 seasons as a Division I head coach at Maine, Michigan State, and Duke, she became the only coach ever to win Coa...
•
Episode 91
•
1:02:17
The Forgotten Astronaut of Apollo 11
When Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon, the world watched in awe. But there was a third astronaut, Michael Collins, whose name you may not know. While the others explored the lunar surface, Collins remained in orbit, cut off fro...
•
Episode 90
•
5:05
The Bull Don't Care
After his third world title, professional bull rider Tuff Hedeman didn’t go on a victory tour. He didn’t take a break. He loaded his gear, headed to Denver, and started over in preparation for the next event. Why? Because he said "the bull does...
•
Episode 89
•
3:17
Quiet Rehearsals for Greatness
Olympic champion marathoner Eliud Kipchoge describes long runs as “quiet rehearsals for greatness.” In this episode, we unpack the science behind mental stamina and draw from Alex Hutchinson’s book, Endure, on how you can train your mi...
•
Episode 88
•
5:40
Law of the Frequency
Two people can say the exact same thing, yet only one sticks. Why? Because we’re tuned to certain frequencies. In this episode, we explore The Law of the Frequency and how tone, timing, stories, and trust shape the messages we actually...
•
Episode 87
•
6:43
Hunting Antelope: How to Focus on What Truly Matters
As human beings, we can be busy all day and still make no progress. This episode will show you why and how to fix it. Using the antelope vs. field mice metaphor (inspired from a quote by Newt Gingrich), I’ll share why so many leaders, coaches, ...
•
Episode 86
•
7:38
Quiet Strength and Leadership
When was the last time you thanked someone who helped you rise? In this episode, we explore the quiet strength and impact of Sherpas. Sherpas are those essential "behind-the-scenes" contributors who make high performance and achieving your drea...
•
Episode 85
•
6:29
Don't Start the Engine for Them
You can’t make someone want something, but you can build an environment or create conditions where they choose to chase it themselves. This week’s episode features a parenting story from legendary basketball coach, Pat Summitt, that is...
•
Episode 84
•
5:30