Pre-Zero Sports Talk
Welcome to Pre-Zero Sports Talk, where sports, leadership, faith, community, and clean progress intersect. Hosted by Sid Bensalah, with over 30 years of global sports industry experience, this podcast isn’t about quick fixes or empty talk. It’s a platform for authentic, purpose-driven conversations that go beyond the game to explore how sports can drive positive, actionable change. Born from a passion for impact, Pre-Zero Sports Talk dives into today’s most pressing themes: performance and well-being, leadership, innovation, coaching, community impact, sustainability, regenerative agriculture, governance, geopolitics, and more. Each episode cuts through the noise and greenwashing, engaging with trailblazers, changemakers, and thought leaders to uncover solutions and inspire new perspectives. This is a space for real conversations with real people about real issues — stories that challenge norms, break barriers, and spark transformation. Whether you’re an athlete, coach, business leader, or someone who believes in the power of sport to make a difference, there’s a seat at the table for you. Subscribe now to join a movement that informs, inspires, and empowers. Together, let’s redefine the role of sports in shaping a cleaner, safer, and more connected world — one episode at a time.
Episodes
In Episode 101 of the Pre-Zero Sports Talk Podcast, Sid Bensalah sits down with Jonathan K. Osborne, a former Division I basketball player and federal prosecutor, now leading white-collar defense and internal investigations.
This conversation explores preparation vs. uncertainty — and how sports shape leadership, discipline, and identity beyond the game. Jonathan shares how grace, grit, and humility became the founda...
On the milestone Episode 100 of Pre-Zero Sports Talk, Sid Bensalah sits down with Dr. Jack Groppel, a sports science pioneer and author of Mountains Within, for a raw, deeply personal conversation about success, faith, and identity.
From a childhood shaped by a demanding father to a lifelong drive to prove himself, Jack opens up about what he calls “achievement addiction” — the relentless pursuit of external validati...
In this episode, 99, Sid Bensalah talks with Alex Lubyansky, Founder of Detroit Metro FC and former European Sporting Director, to reveal a tough truth about U.S. soccer.
The system is built more for participation than actual performance.
Alex discusses how the pay-to-play model prioritizes players by income over talent, explains how incentives shape behavior at both youth and professional levels, and describes how th...
In Episode 98, Sid Bensalah sits down with Scott Martin, an award-winning soccer coach, educator, and author of Play From Your Heart.
After a life-threatening infection led to septic shock, a month-long coma, and the loss of both hands and parts of his feet, Scott was forced to rebuild his life from the ground up. What followed is a powerful journey of resilience, leadership, and rediscovering purpose through sport.
S...
What if dyslexia is not a disability, but a different method of processing information that schools still do not understand?
In this detailed episode, Sid Bensalah interviews Russell Van Brocklen, a dyslexia researcher funded by the New York State Senate, whose personal struggles with reading and writing drove him to pursue a 20-year mission to reevaluate dyslexia and learning. After being assessed at roughly a firs...
In Episode 96 of the Pre-Zero Sports Talk Podcast, host Sid Bensalah interviews Josephina Oji, Global Director of Impact, Sustainability, and Transformation, for an engaging discussion on leadership, sustainability, and the value of an outsider perspective in sports.
Josephina shares her “squiggly career” journey from law, human rights, and government policy into global sports strategy. Drawing on experience in diplo...
Are men facing a modern masculinity crisis?
In Episode 95 of Pre-Zero Sports Talk, Sid Bensalah sits down with Maxim Shapiro, men’s purpose coach and founder of Forward Motion Coaching, for a raw and honest conversation about depression, identity, effort, and reclaiming authentic self-leadership.
Maxim shares how years of drifting, negative self-talk, and playing it safe led to deep dissatisfaction. In his early 40s, ...
In Episode 94 of the Pre-Zero Sports Talk Podcast, Sid Bensalah sits down with performance coach Tom Waite to explore why your body is the real business plan for any leader aiming for clarity, resilience, and long-term performance. Tom works with executives and founders, using athletic training principles, biometric data, strength work, and recovery systems to help high performers avoid burnout and lead with energy ...
Angela R. Lewis, a former Division I basketball player, championship-winning coach, author, and leadership consultant, joins host Sid Bensalah on the Pre-Zero Sports Talk podcast to discuss the evolving landscape of women's sports. The conversation covers visibility in women's sports, the importance of role models, and the growth and investment that drive the game's popularity. Angela delves into her ...
David Sauers is the co-founder of Royal Restrooms, a visionary entrepreneur and master at turning overlooked problems into meaningful business solutions. From a frustrating moment at a Shakespeare festival in Savannah, Georgia, he sparked an idea that led to a nationwide luxury restroom franchise operating in over 50 U.S. markets.
In this episode of the Pre-Zero Sports Talk Podcast, host Sid Bensalah explores David’s...
In this raw, honest, and wide-ranging conversation, host Sid Bensalah sits down with Bob Labbe, retired engineer and author of Putting by the Numbers, to explore how structure, science, and simplicity can unlock consistency and confidence in your golf game — starting with lag putting.
Bob shares how frustration on the green turned into a 25-year journey that combined engineering logic with real-world results. His met...
Dr. Matthew Kutz, a global leadership expert, scholar, and prostate cancer survivor, joins Sid Bensalah for a powerful and candid conversation about identity, resilience, and faith in the face of real suffering. Diagnosed with advanced metastatic cancer, Matt shares how pain became a teacher and how purpose deepened through adversity.
He shares his initial shock, a shift in his mindset, and how faith, family, and com...
In this inspiring episode, host Sid Bensalah speaks with Kandace Kalin, a former elite synchronized swimmer and founder of O2 Sports Insurance. Kandace opens up about her personal journey — from the rigor of competitive athletics to the boardroom — sharing how grief, wrongful termination, and profound loss reshaped her career and mission. She discusses how the resilience, structure, and discipline from her swimming ...
In this episode, Sid Bensalah welcomes Radha Balani, Partner and Director of Strategy at Think Beyond, for an honest conversation about purpose, performance, and progress in sport. From her deep experience shaping strategies for some of the world’s most iconic clubs and brands, Radha breaks down how sport can—and should—be a vehicle for social change, commercial growth, and community impact.
The episode explores why ...
In this heartfelt episode, Janet Irizarry, founder of My Mindful Kitchen, joins host Sid Bensalah to discuss how the kitchen can influence more than just meals — it can shape minds, values, and legacies. From owning restaurants to launching a food advocacy movement, Janet shares her journey, sparked by a powerful line in her son's college essay: There was never food in the house.
Together, they explore how daily...
In this powerful episode, host Sid Bensalah is joined by Joshua Harrison, co-founder of Leaf Island and co-director of the Center for the Study of the Force Majeure. Together, they unpack how cities around the world can use nature—not just to survive climate stress—but to regenerate and thrive.
This isn't theory. It's about real solutions already in play.
We explore:
- Turning recycled Styrofoam into high-p...
In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Sid Bensalah sits down with Mark Motsenbocker, a seasoned executive, mentor, and author of “Searching for Father: Lessons From a Son’s Journey.”
Mark opens up about the life-altering loss of his parents in a tragic car accident when he was just 8 years old. With raw honesty, he shares how that trauma shaped his journey, and how his grandmother and a series of father figur...
Miles Reynolds, a sports entrepreneur, founder, and president of Legendary Sports Construction, host of the Pickleball Builders Podcast, and board member of Southern Nevada Pickleball, has become one of the most influential voices in America's fastest-growing sport. With experience in business development, community outreach, and youth engagement, Miles has helped elevate pickleball from a backyard activity int...
Chris Baron is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, Series Producer for National Geographic and the BBC, and host of the No Ordinary Monday podcast.
He has filmed in some of the most extreme environments on the planet. From volcanoes to minefields, from deep caves to active war zones, his career is defined by curiosity, courage, and calculated risk. In this episode of Pre-Zero Sports Talk, host Sid Bensalah dives ...
In this episode, Sid Bensalah sits down with Sandy Cohan, an elite mindset architect, former professional hockey coach, global keynote speaker, and best-selling author of the UNSHAKABLE: 99 Rules series.
Together, they unpack what it really takes to perform under pressure—on the field, in the locker room, at home, and in life. Sandy shares how true confidence is built over time, not through hype or hustle, but by doi...
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