High Performance & Coaching Episodes

About the guest: Megan Torrance is a workplace learning and development leader who helps organizations create better systems for growth, performance, and skill development. In this conversation, she brings together practical insight from her work in learning design, her perspective on AI as an augmentation tool, and her own lived experience as an athlete, coach-supported leader, and endurance hiker. About the episode: In this episode, Steve sits down with Megan Torrance to unpack what it really ...

Most high performers chase ceilings: bigger goals, more revenue, bigger stages. Steve argues that what actually determines whether you feel steady in the moments that matter is your floor, your daily standards, mindset, and behaviors when no one is watching. He breaks down how “growth resistance” shows up subtly (protecting identity, reputation, competence), and why the path forward isn’t hype or intensity… it’s alignment. Key takeaways: Goals as “ceilings” vs. standards as your “floor” Why pres...

About the Guest: Maritza McClendon is an Olympic silver medalist, speaker, and corporate leader currently serving in Communications and Community Affairs at Carter’s. Beyond her remarkable swimming career, Maritza has dedicated herself to inspiring others through speaking, leadership, and her advocacy for diversity and inclusion. Today, she continues to build her orbit, learning from mentors, influencing others, and preparing to step into her next chapter as both a professional speaker and aspir...

About the Episode In this episode of The Growth Ready Podcast: Coaches Corner, host Steve Mellor challenges the common misconceptions about coaching. Using the legendary story of Coach Jim Valvano and NC State’s 1983 championship run, Steve illustrates that true coaching isn’t about control, shouting, or rigid direction, it’s about facilitation, curiosity, and empowerment. Listeners will discover why the best coaches (on the court, in the boardroom, or in life) create environments for self-di...

About the Guest: Lex Gillette is a world-renowned Paralympic track and field athlete, speaker, and author. Despite losing his sight at age 8, Lex has built a career marked by world records, Paralympic medals, and a powerful mission to teach others how to "see" their potential. His message centers on leadership, resilience, and unlocking excellence in life’s everyday moments. About the Episode: In this inspiring conversation, Steve Mellor welcomes back Lex Gillette for a deep dive into what it re...

About the Guest: Amanda Stern is a coach, writer, speaker, and expert in the practice of journaling as a tool for self-discovery, emotional clarity, and intentional living. A lifelong learner and former librarian, Amanda has built a unique approach to helping others show up more fully in their lives. She blends soft skills like presence and empathy with a bold curiosity about how we grow, adapt, and serve others... while staying grounded in our own values. About the Episode: Amanda Stern returns...

About the Guest Larry Long Jr. is a global keynote speaker, sales coach, author, and founder of LLJR Enterprises. Known for his infectious energy and motivational message, Larry inspires professionals around the world to rediscover their greatness and live with purpose. A former athlete turned corporate sales leader, Larry now helps others step into their power with clarity, courage, and community. About the Episode In this high-energy and heart-filled conversation, Larry Long Jr. returns to ...

About the Guest : Chris Vasami is a former All-American baseball player turned elite performance coach and keynote speaker. With years of experience mentoring athletes, executives, and high-performing teams, Chris helps people build mental and physical resilience, navigate failure, and align daily actions with long-term goals. His personal journey, including an ongoing battle with cancer, adds depth and realness to his message about discipline, mindset, and showing up when it counts. About the E...

About the Guest: Collin Henderson is a high-performance coach, speaker, and the founder of Master Your Mindset, where he helps athletes, executives, and leaders build mental toughness and confidence. A former college athlete turned top-performing sales professional, Collin took his passion for mindset coaching and built a platform that trains people in mental conditioning, self-talk, and the power of belief. He’s the author of multiple books and the creator of Quiet Mind, a new co...

About the Guest: Glenn Leifheit is a technology leader at Microsoft, a podcast host, and a dedicated mentor. With over 20 years in the tech industry, Glenn has embraced personal and professional growth while helping others navigate their own journeys. He hosts From Stuck to Growth and co-hosts Mentorship Live on LinkedIn, a space dedicated to supporting job seekers. About the Episode: In this episode of GrowthReady, host Steve Mellor sits down with Glenn Leifheit to discuss the power of growt...

Dre Baldwin, CEO and founder of Work on Your Game, Inc., shares his journey as a former professional basketball player and how it has shaped his approach to personal and professional development. He emphasizes the importance of discipline, structure, and persistence in achieving success. Dre highlights the need to find the right opportunity that aligns with your skills and goals, and the importance of continuously working on your game to improve and produce results. He encourages individuals to ...

Antonio Vaglica, a former athlete turned entrepreneur, shares his journey of building two successful businesses and the importance of small consistent habits. He emphasizes the need to focus on micro wins and daily habits to achieve long-term success. Antonio discusses the role of sports in entrepreneurship and how it provides valuable lessons in resilience, teamwork, and failure. He also talks about his consulting firm that helps growth-oriented entrepreneurs maximize their enterprise value and...

Cullen Talley a seasoned entrepreneur, investor, and coach, discusses the importance of competitiveness and discomfort in achieving success. He shares his personal experience as a competitive swimmer and endurance athlete, highlighting the mindset required to stay in discomfort and push through challenges. Talley emphasizes the need to start small and gradually increase discomfort levels, setting clear goals and measuring progress along the way. He also stresses the value of having a third-party...

Frank Kitchen, a motivational speaker and author, shares his journey from a career in training and leadership development to becoming a professional speaker. He emphasizes the importance of talent and passion in pursuing a career and the impact of competitiveness on driving performance. Frank's story highlights the evolution of his career and the diverse industries he has impacted through his speaking engagements. The conversation explores the concept of healthy competition and its impact on per...

Amy Kemp, a certified habit finder coach, shares her journey of discovering the power of thought habits and how they impact success. She explains that her work focuses on the subconscious habits of thinking that occur throughout the day and how they can hold us back. Amy emphasizes that hard work alone is not enough to achieve our goals and that we need to change our thought habits to move forward. She also discusses the challenges and resistance she faced when making the transition to her curre...

Cullen Talley a seasoned entrepreneur, investor, and coach, discusses the importance of competitiveness and discomfort in achieving success. He shares his personal experience as a competitive swimmer and endurance athlete, highlighting the mindset required to stay in discomfort and push through challenges. Talley emphasizes the need to start small and gradually increase discomfort levels, setting clear goals and measuring progress along the way. He also stresses the value of having a third-party...

Welcome to a bite-size episode of Career Competitor as Steve presents a 7-minute insight for listeners around the art of coaching and why it needs to be defined clearly. Through both storytelling and educating, host Steve Mellor provides you with the impactful insight you need to either elevate your coaching skills or look at the art of coaching through a renewed lens. Be sure to follow Steve for more impactful content like this on Instagram @coachstevemellor and on his LinkedIn page here Send a...

Host Steve Mellor sits down with guest Jake Burhans to explore the intricacies of professional and personal growth. Jake, a seasoned entrepreneur, and real estate professional, shares invaluable insights around the value that comes from always showing up, finding a true definition for the "hard" in hard work, and the need to focus on the infinite game when it comes to your development. Jake Burhans is a real estate entrepreneur who owns and operates two separate companies. With QA Home Buyers, J...

Welcome to an episode worthy of being the final episode of the year as we discuss all things growth with two very special guests. Steve welcomes a pair of guests in the Founding Partner & CEO of NOVUS Global, Jason Jaggard and Associate Partner with NOVUS Global, Kristin Frade. NOVUS Global is a coaching service that focuses on Meta-Performance with all clients and Jason and Kristin are here to get you up to speed with how you can start to implement this perspective in your life. There is an ab...

Welcome to a concise and impactful episode with Steve offering coaching insights to assist you with your pursuit of optimal performance. In this episode, Steve takes you through a powerful insight around being deliberate with what you remove from your work and life in order to produce at higher levels. Take 8 minutes of your day to shape your mind and open yourself up to a renewed perspective that you will want to share with others! Send a text Support the show Connect with Steve Mellor Stay con...

There will always be more evidence of why you shouldn't pursue a preferred outcome thanks to the many more stories of failure and disappointment. But what makes success stories exactly that is a person's ability to go after what they believe is rightfully theirs and overthrow the limiting beliefs that hinder so many. Welcome to a concise and impactful episode with Steve offering coaching insights to assist you with your pursuit of optimal performance. Take 8 minutes of your day ...

Welcome to Career Competitor! In today's episode with Todd Saylor, we'll uncover the secrets to setting yourself apart, the art of transferring success from one area of life to another, and Todd's unique concept of becoming a "successionaire." Here's what you'll take away: 1. Discover why adding a competitive spark to your day is a game-changer. 2. Learn how to leverage your victories in one area of life to succeed in others. 3. Immerse yourself in Todd's distinctive take on success - beco...

Hey, Career Competitor fam! 🎉 We hit a big milestone - our 200th episode! I'm Steve Mellor, your host, and I'm super pumped for this one. Big thanks to all of you, whether you're a longtime fan or just joining us. In this special episode, I'm joined by an old friend, Milo Cavic, and we dive into some game-changing takeaways: 1. Discover why asking, "How is this serving me?" is your secret weapon in owning your journey. 2. Even the most self-motivated souls need a hand on their path to achie...

All-too-often there has been a belief that intention means nothing without action. But is it possible that we have been addressing the wrong issue? Steve tries to tackle the age-old issue on how we look at both intention and action through the lens of becoming unstuck by building a belief IN yourself. Welcome to a concise and impactful episode with Steve offering a coaching insight to assist you with your pursuit of optimal performance. Take 8 minutes of your day to shape your mind and open your...