In Episode 4 of Beyond The Game, host Steve Boehle sits down with Zach Brayman — a Division I lacrosse player at Bellarmine University who went from a self-made "no-name" recruit to a coach, spent years in sales leadership, and now co-founded Chubies, a children's barefoot shoe brand launching this fall. Zach has carried the lessons of sport into coaching, into building teams, and into fatherhood.

Steve and Zach run through the Top 5 — the five questions every guest answers — and get into:

• Why "practice makes permanent" changed how he works and leads
• Sport as the professor for adversity — and learning to ride the highs and lows
• Why the player bigger than the team is a cancer in the locker room
• The discipline of showing up (in the gym and in life)
• The one thing he'd tell his younger self: you're not as good as you think — put in the work

Then they get into what's going wrong in youth sports: force-feeding kids, taking the joy out of the game, rising burnout, and a fresh idea worth hearing — putting your best coaches with your least experienced players. Zach closes with a hot take every parent needs to hear, about the one gift that matters most.

Education opens the door. Sports build the habits for success.

In Episode 3 of Beyond The Game, host Steve Boehle sits down with Allan Prunell — a Division I basketball player at the University of Pacific, two-time NCAA tournament participant, eight-year semi-pro, and player development coach now building HOOPr, an app giving athletes everywhere access to real training. Allan has lived on both sides of the grind: the athlete working to get better and the founder building something from nothing.

Steve and Allan run through the Top 5 — the five questions every guest answers — and get into:

• Why self-discipline is the one skill that carries into everything
• Treating failure as information, not a verdict
• What real teamwork looks like (the "hive mind")
• Being intentional — why movement doesn't equal progress
• The advice Allan would give his younger self

Then they tackle what's broken in youth sports: too many games, not enough development, rising burnout and injuries, and why challenging kids beats protecting their record. If you believe development should come before winning, this one's for you.

Education opens the door. Sports build the habits for success.

Learn more about HOOPr: Click Here

We hear it all the time, the little things are what will set you apart from the competition. As athletes, we work day and night trying to improve the little things in mechanics. What we do not know is that this is preparing us to lead.

The Fundamentals Matter

"You don't need the grand slam every at-bat. Sometimes what wins the game is the perfect bunt." — Claire

Here is what I know in all my time in marketing, business, and leadership: the fundamentals matter. 

Think of it this way. We have this new AI tool, and marketing is starting to jump on it, use it, and possibly overuse it (time will tell). Here is what I know: if you do not have a strong message, a clear differentiator, or a decent product, AI will not save you. Yes, you will be able to create an unlimited amount of content, graphics, flyers, or whatever your heart desires. Trust me, I have been part of the youth sports Facebook groups. 

The point is that you cannot make a huge jump without the fundamentals. If you decide to use AI without the brand fundamentals, solid financials, or a decent product (something that solves a problem), the tool will not help you. 

As athletes, we know how important it is to work on the fundamentals; the same is true in your business. There is no shortcut to success. You need to do the work; you need to establish your fundamentals before you can scale.

The Little Things Compound

"You can build a wonderful life by being very good at the small things — because they compound." — Claire Fausey

As athletes, we have all heard the saying "stack your days”. When we are in the grind, it is hard to see how stacking the days matters for our desired outcome. We are making small improvements every day, hitting the baseball a little harder and kicking the soccer ball slightly better. 

We learn to accept the small incremental improvements because, as athletes, we are stacking days; this keeps us from getting frustrated and giving up.

Here is a real example. Growing a social media account, driving organic search traffic to your site, and building a development facility from $0 take time and effort. Every day, you get a new follower, 10 more hits to the website, or a $5 donation. This is improvement, just like stacking your days, every post, blog, or email gets you closer, just like every training session gets you closer to your athletic goals. 

The little things will drive your success. Maybe not tomorrow or the next day, maybe not next month, but eventually you will make it.

You Are Not in Control

"Whatever happened to you might not have been in your control — but your response is 100% in your control." — Claire

We have all been in situations where we believe we were “robbed”, we got the short end of the stick, and the situation was not fair. Maybe in those situations you were right, maybe it was fair, and you were just having a bad day. 

What we can control is our response. Think about it, when you are in business, you are going to get a deal that does not go your way. There will be a time when you have the better product or service, yet you still lose the client or the deal. It is going to happen, trust me, I have been there. 

Whether it is fair or not, the way you react is up to you. You can give up, complain, or you can keep pushing forward with a smile on your face. 

Sports teach us a valuable lesson: we do not control the outcome; we only control how we react.

Beyond The Game Podcast is all about showcasing how sports help us, pushed us, and taught us the lessons that matter later in life

Discover how sports shape life skills and success.

In the inaugural episode of the Beyond the Game Podcast, host Steve Boehle reflects on how sports have not only shaped his life but also the lives of his students at Academy 48, Arizona's only tuition-free sports academy. Through personal anecdotes and lessons learned, he emphasizes the importance of hard work, resilience, and leadership in both sports and life.

The Journey Begins

Steve introduces himself and shares his background, highlighting his experiences in sports and education. He believes that the lessons learned through athletics are crucial for success in life. "The skills you learn playing sports are what help make you successful," he asserts, pointing to the importance of integrating sports into educational curriculums.

Key Lessons from Sports

1. Hard Work Pays Off

Reflecting on his baseball journey, Steve recalls a coach's advice: "Our next level starts at 300 swings every single day." This lesson underscores the value of consistent effort. In Steve’s words, "If I want to be successful in my next venture, it's going to take showing up and doing the work every day."

2. Overcoming Adversity

Steve draws parallels between sports and business, stating, "If you're hitting .300, you're a successful hitter." He emphasizes that learning from failure is essential. "Just because we failed doesn't mean that we give up. We learn from it and continue to move forward."

3. True Leadership

"A good leader is someone who's willing to get in there and play alongside their team," Steve explains. This philosophy of leading by example is crucial in both sports and professional environments.

4. Adaptability is Key

Recalling a pivotal tournament moment, Steve illustrates that plans can change unexpectedly, stating, "Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth." He highlights the necessity of adapting to new situations to succeed.

5. The Power of Showing Up

If he could tell his younger self one thing, it would be to simply show up. "Showing up is half the battle," Steve reflects, emphasizing the importance of participation and engagement in personal growth.

A Call for Change in Education

Steve concludes with a hot take: education should include sports and enrichment programs. "These elements are what motivate students and teach them valuable life lessons," he insists, advocating for a more holistic approach to education.

As we embark on this journey together through the Beyond the Game Podcast, Steve invites listeners to reflect on their own experiences in sports and how those lessons can be applied to life. Stay tuned for more insights and inspiring stories in future episodes!

We talk about what makes this new journey special and why we decided to start with a podcast.