Pre-Zero Sports Talk

Sid Bensalah
  • 5.0 (6)
  • SPORTS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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.

  1. Success on Paper, Empty Inside | Nicole Anderson on Burnout, Leadership & Parenthood

    23H AGO

    Success on Paper, Empty Inside | Nicole Anderson on Burnout, Leadership & Parenthood

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when you achieve everything you thought you wanted… but still feel exhausted, disconnected, and empty inside? In this raw and deeply honest conversation, leadership coach and burnout expert Nicole Anderson joins Sid Bensalah to unpack the hidden emotional cost of success, high performance, leadership pressure, parenting, identity, and modern work culture. Nicole shares her personal journey through burnout, health struggles, motherhood, achievement addiction, and the process of redefining success on her own terms. Together, they explore why so many high achievers tie self-worth to performance, why modern culture rewards productivity over peace, and how leaders can pursue ambition without losing themselves in the process. This episode also dives into: • Burnout and emotional exhaustion • Leadership and authenticity • Women in leadership • Work-life integration • Parenting and ambition • Mental resilience in sports and business • Scandinavian work culture • Recovery, boundaries, and intentional living • Purpose beyond titles and achievement Key Moments: 00:00 Success on Paper, Empty Inside 03:54 Kids Trigger the Shift 06:53 Achievement as Identity 14:57 Redefining Success and Freedom 23:51 Ambition With Boundaries 35:27 Hit the Wall and Naming It 47:45 Resilience Means Recovery Plans 49:56 Gender Double Standards in Leadership 01:03:30 Work Life Integration 01:10:29 Ambition and Presence 01:16:07 Building Mindfully Successful Learn more about Nicole Anderson: https://thekalergroup.com Order Mindfully Successful: https://margoboster.com/mindfully-successful/ Support the show ☞ Stay Connected with Pre-Zero Sports Talk! Join host Sid Bensalah and the Pre-Zero Sports Talk community for real conversations at the intersection of sports, leadership, faith, community, and clean progress. Follow, watch, and share your voice—because it matters. Follow & Engage  🔹 Spotify (Video) → Watch Full Episodes 🔹 YouTube → Subscribe & Join the Conversation 🔹 Twitter/X → @PreZeroST 🔹 Instagram → @PreZeroSportsTalk 🔹 LinkedIn → Connect with the Community 🔹 TikTok → @PreZeroSportsTalk 🔹 Substack → Get Exclusive Updates Your Voice Matters! 🎤 Got feedback or a topic idea? We’d love to hear from you → Send your thoughts here 💡 Support the Podcast 👉 Donate.

    1h 30m
  2. AI Won’t Replace Humans — But Bad Leadership Might | Stephanie Sylvestre

    MAY 15

    AI Won’t Replace Humans — But Bad Leadership Might | Stephanie Sylvestre

    Send us Fan Mail In Episode 103, Sid Bensalah sits down with Stephanie Sylvestre, CEO and Co-Founder of Avatar Buddy AI, for a raw and deeply human conversation about AI, leadership, human potential, layoffs, community, and the future of work. Stephanie explains why AI should amplify people rather than replace them, how properly configured AI can build self-esteem and self-agency, and why the erosion of the middle class could become one of society’s biggest risks. From powerful stories in Nairobi and Ghana to honest reflections on entrepreneurship, self-doubt, sexism in tech, and the emotional realities of building a startup, this episode goes far beyond technology. This is a conversation about people, purpose, resilience, and what kind of future we are building. Topics include: • Human-centered AI • AI and leadership • AI replacing jobs • Layoffs and the middle class • Entrepreneurship and resilience • Digital mentors and AI agents • AI in education and farming • Community and trust in the AI era • Deepfakes and human connection • Women in AI and leadership Timestamps: 00:00 AI Won’t Replace Humans — But Bad Leadership Might 00:05 AI And Human Possibility 02:57 Accidental Startup Origin 12:45 Doubt, Ego, and Menopause 15:29 Data Vaults And AI Agents 25:02 Profit, Layoffs, and Society 36:41 AI For Literacy And Farming 43:32 Kindness and Self-Worth 47:42 Monetizing Human First AI 55:19 Layoffs And Exploitation 56:52 Sexism And Racism In AI 01:01:08 Deepfakes And Community Trust 01:03:27 Future Vision And Lightning Round Support the show ☞ Stay Connected with Pre-Zero Sports Talk! Join host Sid Bensalah and the Pre-Zero Sports Talk community for real conversations at the intersection of sports, leadership, faith, community, and clean progress. Follow, watch, and share your voice—because it matters. Follow & Engage  🔹 Spotify (Video) → Watch Full Episodes 🔹 YouTube → Subscribe & Join the Conversation 🔹 Twitter/X → @PreZeroST 🔹 Instagram → @PreZeroSportsTalk 🔹 LinkedIn → Connect with the Community 🔹 TikTok → @PreZeroSportsTalk 🔹 Substack → Get Exclusive Updates Your Voice Matters! 🎤 Got feedback or a topic idea? We’d love to hear from you → Send your thoughts here 💡 Support the Podcast 👉 Donate.

    1h 13m
  3. Leadership Beyond the Leader with Björn Vikard

    MAY 8

    Leadership Beyond the Leader with Björn Vikard

    Send us Fan Mail Episode #102 of Pre-Zero Sports Talk features leadership advisor and former COO Björn Vikard in a raw, honest, and deeply insightful conversation on leadership, succession, trust, systems thinking, and high-performance culture. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience across Sweden, Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, and Thailand, Björn shares hard-earned lessons on cross-cultural leadership, rebuilding broken trust, founder dependency, organizational culture, and why great teams collapse when leadership becomes overly centered on one individual. Using powerful examples from Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United, the All Blacks, Olympic systems, and family-owned businesses, this episode explores how leaders can build organizations, teams, and cultures that last beyond them. We also dive into communication, marriage, parenting, AI’s impact on leadership, “gemba” leadership, sports development systems, and the importance of humility, self-awareness, and accountability. A powerful long-form conversation for leaders, coaches, founders, athletes, and anyone interested in leadership beyond titles and ego. Timestamps 00:00 Leadership Beyond the Leader 02:59 Culture Shock in Sri Lanka 09:49 Why Relationships Matter in Asia 12:28 Trust, Character & Self-Awareness 21:40 Systems Over Hero Leaders 27:54 Sports Coaching Cycles 31:54 Founder Succession Fears 40:49 Difficult Conversations With Owners 56:37 Different Levels See Different Problems 57:39 Gemba Leadership Explained 01:01:58 Rebuilding Broken Trust 01:09:52 Marriage & Communication 01:13:29 AI & The Future of Consulting 01:22:26 Lightning Round 01:31:06 Final Thoughts & Quote Learn more about Björn → https://bjornvikard.com/ Support the show ☞ Stay Connected with Pre-Zero Sports Talk! Join host Sid Bensalah and the Pre-Zero Sports Talk community for real conversations at the intersection of sports, leadership, faith, community, and clean progress. Follow, watch, and share your voice—because it matters. Follow & Engage  🔹 Spotify (Video) → Watch Full Episodes 🔹 YouTube → Subscribe & Join the Conversation 🔹 Twitter/X → @PreZeroST 🔹 Instagram → @PreZeroSportsTalk 🔹 LinkedIn → Connect with the Community 🔹 TikTok → @PreZeroSportsTalk 🔹 Substack → Get Exclusive Updates Your Voice Matters! 🎤 Got feedback or a topic idea? We’d love to hear from you → Send your thoughts here 💡 Support the Podcast 👉 Donate.

    1h 32m
  4. Grace, Grit & Humility: What Sports Teach You About Life and Pressure

    APR 20

    Grace, Grit & Humility: What Sports Teach You About Life and Pressure

    Send us Fan Mail 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 foundation of his journey from athlete to attorney. One powerful framework he shares is thinking about life in 7-year cycles — where each phase brings periods of growth and evolution across three key areas: professional life, personal life, and community service. He also reflects on failure and losing — not just as outcomes, but as defining moments that shape character and perspective. The episode dives into the realities of NIL deals, contract risks, and leadership under pressure, while also touching on faith, service, and purpose. In a powerful moment, Jonathan shares what gives him hope — rooted in progress, growth, and the impact we have on others. A raw and insightful conversation for athletes, leaders, and anyone navigating pressure and purpose. Timestamps 00:00 Grace, Grit & Humility: What Sports Teach You About Life and Pressure 02:09 Sportsmanship And Grace 03:34 Basketball Lessons: Grit Humility 09:24 Player To Coach Mindset 11:21 Athletes In Business Excellence 13:39 Habits, Health, and Seven Years 23:21 Defining Winning And Losing 26:40 Servant Leadership Principles 30:08 Pressure as a Federal Prosecutor 33:28 Composure Reading The Room 36:08 Detaching After Verdicts 40:15 Settling vs Trial Control 41:59 NIL Deal Misconceptions 43:17 Contract Dispute Clauses 45:56 Unequal Leverage and Representation 50:49 Is NIL Sustainable 52:52 Key Clauses to Review 01:02:01 Morality Clauses and Investigations 01:05:28 AI Ethics in Legal Practice 01:08:37 Hope Progress and Service 01:12:52 Lightning Round 01:19:53 Final Wisdom and Closing To learn more about Jonathan, click here.  Support the show ☞ Stay Connected with Pre-Zero Sports Talk! Join host Sid Bensalah and the Pre-Zero Sports Talk community for real conversations at the intersection of sports, leadership, faith, community, and clean progress. Follow, watch, and share your voice—because it matters. Follow & Engage  🔹 Spotify (Video) → Watch Full Episodes 🔹 YouTube → Subscribe & Join the Conversation 🔹 Twitter/X → @PreZeroST 🔹 Instagram → @PreZeroSportsTalk 🔹 LinkedIn → Connect with the Community 🔹 TikTok → @PreZeroSportsTalk 🔹 Substack → Get Exclusive Updates Your Voice Matters! 🎤 Got feedback or a topic idea? We’d love to hear from you → Send your thoughts here 💡 Support the Podcast 👉 Donate.

    1h 23m
  5. I Spent My Life Trying to Prove Myself — Until I Found What Really Matters

    APR 13

    I Spent My Life Trying to Prove Myself — Until I Found What Really Matters

    Send us Fan Mail 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 validation. Despite working with elite athletes and leading organizations such as the Human Performance Institute, he reveals that success alone was never enough. A turning point came during a 1996 hospitalization, when isolation forced him to confront deeper questions about purpose, relationships, and faith. What followed was a journey of transformation — guided by mentors, grounded in faith, and ultimately reshaped by fatherhood after adopting his son from China. Jack shares powerful insights into curiosity as a driver of growth, the role of fear in life and faith — reflected in Holy Easter and the human experience of fear — and the importance of character over performance. As he puts it, “I’m not a fan of pushing in sport, but I’m a big fan of being a great parent.” From an unforgettable trip to Alaska with his father to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro with his son, this episode reflects on transformation, resilience, and the mountains  Timestamps 00:00 - I Spent My Life Trying to Prove Myself 00:01 - Redefining Success 03:07 - Early Life and Father Influence 10:27 - Curiosity, Pressure, and Validation 25:21 - Faith, Crisis, and Searching for Truth 31:15 - Becoming a Sports Science Pioneer 53:24 - Elite Performance and Human Potential 01:12:50 - Risk, Career Choices, and Achievement Addiction 01:33:32 - Adoption and Becoming a Father 01:50:00 - Kilimanjaro and the Mountains Within 02:04:06 - Final Reflections on Purpose and Success Support the show ☞ Stay Connected with Pre-Zero Sports Talk! Join host Sid Bensalah and the Pre-Zero Sports Talk community for real conversations at the intersection of sports, leadership, faith, community, and clean progress. Follow, watch, and share your voice—because it matters. Follow & Engage  🔹 Spotify (Video) → Watch Full Episodes 🔹 YouTube → Subscribe & Join the Conversation 🔹 Twitter/X → @PreZeroST 🔹 Instagram → @PreZeroSportsTalk 🔹 LinkedIn → Connect with the Community 🔹 TikTok → @PreZeroSportsTalk 🔹 Substack → Get Exclusive Updates Your Voice Matters! 🎤 Got feedback or a topic idea? We’d love to hear from you → Send your thoughts here 💡 Support the Podcast 👉 Donate.

    2h 7m
  6. Why U.S. Soccer Fails: Pay-to-Play, Money, and the Truth About Football

    APR 3

    Why U.S. Soccer Fails: Pay-to-Play, Money, and the Truth About Football

    Send us Fan Mail 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 the U.S. differs from global soccer systems. From Europe’s merit-based promotion and relegation system to South America’s culture of access and street football, this conversation challenges how we view development, competition, and success. This offers a clear, honest perspective on governance, money, and the structural forces shaping the game. Timestamps: 00:00 Why U.S. Soccer Fails 00:01 Participation Over Performance 01:59 Meet Alex Lubyansky 02:54 From Ukraine to Pro Football 05:36 Building a Free Club Model 07:10 Europe Rewards Winning 08:36 U.S. Soccer Business Model 09:40 Why Transfers Don’t Matter 12:46 MLS: Entertainment vs Sport 13:44 Culture and Attention 24:35 Grassroots Costs 34:08 Detroit Metro FC 37:24 Promotion and Relegation 39:38 U.S. League Structure 41:16 Why Promotion Matters 42:27 Europe’s Club Culture 44:13 Pressure and Performance 47:05 Can the U.S. Change 48:36 Super League Risk 51:55 Pay-to-Play by Design 56:23 College Soccer 58:08 Money vs Culture 01:04:30 Brazil and Argentina 01:09:19 World Cup Impact 01:14:53 Lightning Round Support the show ☞ Stay Connected with Pre-Zero Sports Talk! Join host Sid Bensalah and the Pre-Zero Sports Talk community for real conversations at the intersection of sports, leadership, faith, community, and clean progress. Follow, watch, and share your voice—because it matters. Follow & Engage  🔹 Spotify (Video) → Watch Full Episodes 🔹 YouTube → Subscribe & Join the Conversation 🔹 Twitter/X → @PreZeroST 🔹 Instagram → @PreZeroSportsTalk 🔹 LinkedIn → Connect with the Community 🔹 TikTok → @PreZeroSportsTalk 🔹 Substack → Get Exclusive Updates Your Voice Matters! 🎤 Got feedback or a topic idea? We’d love to hear from you → Send your thoughts here 💡 Support the Podcast 👉 Donate.

    1h 19m
  7. Play From Your Heart | Scott Martin on Losing His Hands and Rebuilding Through Sport

    MAR 20

    Play From Your Heart | Scott Martin on Losing His Hands and Rebuilding Through Sport

    Send us Fan Mail 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. Scott shares how coaching is not about control, but about putting players in a position to learn. He reflects on identity, confidence, parenting, and what it means to lead with empathy and accountability. From raising five adopted children to returning to the sidelines with prosthetics, his story is raw, honest, and deeply human. This episode explores leadership beyond the game, adaptive sports, and why playing from the heart changes everything. Timestamps 00:00 Play From Your Heart 01:04 Coaching as Learning 02:48 Parenting and Leadership 07:20 Life Changed Overnight 10:29 Driven Before Illness 14:25 Coaching Philosophy 19:46 Mentors and Culture 31:31 Illness Warning Signs 35:10 Coma and Wake Up 38:36 Identity and Grief 50:01 Adoption Journey 59:38 Return to Coaching 01:14:03 Writing the Book 01:18:53 Disability Advocacy 01:20:46 Paralympics and Media 01:30:05 Building a Winning Team 01:35:36 Empathy and Accountability 01:40:00 Lightning Round Learn more about Scott here. Support the show ☞ Stay Connected with Pre-Zero Sports Talk! Join host Sid Bensalah and the Pre-Zero Sports Talk community for real conversations at the intersection of sports, leadership, faith, community, and clean progress. Follow, watch, and share your voice—because it matters. Follow & Engage  🔹 Spotify (Video) → Watch Full Episodes 🔹 YouTube → Subscribe & Join the Conversation 🔹 Twitter/X → @PreZeroST 🔹 Instagram → @PreZeroSportsTalk 🔹 LinkedIn → Connect with the Community 🔹 TikTok → @PreZeroSportsTalk 🔹 Substack → Get Exclusive Updates Your Voice Matters! 🎤 Got feedback or a topic idea? We’d love to hear from you → Send your thoughts here 💡 Support the Podcast 👉 Donate.

    1h 50m
  8. The Dyslexic Advantage: From First-Grade Reading to a Better Learning System

    MAR 13

    The Dyslexic Advantage: From First-Grade Reading to a Better Learning System

    Send us Fan Mail 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 first-grade reading and writing level in college, Russell developed a system that challenges traditional ways schools teach dyslexic students and shows how parents, teachers, and coaches can better support them. Russell explains why many schools use the wrong cognitive approach, how his front-brain learning model functions, and why word analysis followed by articulation can quickly improve writing. He also shares case studies from state-funded programs, success stories led by parents, and his views on sports, motivation, neurodiverse thinking, and institutional resistance. This is a raw, honest, high-energy discussion on dyslexia research, education reform, learning systems, coaching dyslexic athletes, and practical steps for families and educators. Timestamps 00:00 The Dyslexic Advantage 00:58 The F That Sparked A Mission 08:49 Why Schools Miss Dyslexia 13:48 First Grade Level Evaluation 21:45 Law School Trial By Fire 30:22 Front Brain Strategy Explained 45:02 Building A Learning System 49:02 Kimberly And Reed Breakthrough 01:06:52 Schools vs Neurodiverse Brains 01:21:00 Sports as Strength Builder 01:27:01 Institutional Resistance 01:39:51 AI as Research Assistant 01:49:09 Final Advice and Closing Learn more about Russell → https://DyslexiaClasses.com Support the show ☞ Stay Connected with Pre-Zero Sports Talk! Join host Sid Bensalah and the Pre-Zero Sports Talk community for real conversations at the intersection of sports, leadership, faith, community, and clean progress. Follow, watch, and share your voice—because it matters. Follow & Engage  🔹 Spotify (Video) → Watch Full Episodes 🔹 YouTube → Subscribe & Join the Conversation 🔹 Twitter/X → @PreZeroST 🔹 Instagram → @PreZeroSportsTalk 🔹 LinkedIn → Connect with the Community 🔹 TikTok → @PreZeroSportsTalk 🔹 Substack → Get Exclusive Updates Your Voice Matters! 🎤 Got feedback or a topic idea? We’d love to hear from you → Send your thoughts here 💡 Support the Podcast 👉 Donate.

    1h 52m
See All (104)

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Sid Bensalah
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    104
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Pre-Zero Sports Talk
  • Show Website
    Pre-Zero Sports Talk