Pre-Zero Sports Talk
Welcome to Pre-Zero Sports Talk, where sports, leadership, community, and progress intersect. Hosted by Sid Bensalah, a seasoned professional with over 25 years of experience in the sports industry, this podcast isn’t about preaching or claiming to have all the answers. Instead, it’s a platform for honest, thought-provoking conversations exploring how to create positive, actionable change in and through sports.
Born from a passion for progress, Pre-Zero Sports Talk explores the pressing topics shaping our world today—leadership, innovation, community impact, performance and well-being, regenerative agriculture, governance, and more. Each episode goes beyond the surface, 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—conversations that challenge norms, break barriers, and spark action. Whether you're a sports enthusiast, industry leader, or someone seeking to make a difference, there’s a seat at the table for you.
Subscribe now to join a movement that informs, entertains, and empowers. Together, let’s redefine the role of sports in building a cleaner, safer, and more connected world—one episode at a time.
Pre-Zero Sports Talk
Athletics Meets Entrepreneurship: Walker Ferguson's Journey
In Episode #40, host Sid Bensalah interviews Walker Ferguson, a student-athlete, entrepreneur, and passionate advocate for mental wellness. As a football safety for Wake Forest University and the co-founder of Ascend, a meditation app designed for personalized mindfulness, Walker has perfected the art of balancing athletics, academics, and entrepreneurship.
This episode delves into the exciting playoff victory of the Kansas City Chiefs against the Buffalo Bills, emphasizing Patrick Mahomes’ talent and exploring how sports foster mental resilience. Walker shares his strategies for mindset, lessons in leadership, and faith-based methods for overcoming challenges, injuries, and the demands of Division 1 football. He discusses how Ascend’s AI-driven mindfulness technology transforms athlete recovery and mental health.
Whether you're an athlete, entrepreneur, or someone looking to enhance mental resilience, this episode is packed with actionable insights and inspiring takeaways.
(00:55) Chiefs vs. Bills – Breaking Down the Game
(02:39) Mahomes vs. Allen: The Playoff Rivalry
(06:53) Walker’s Early Life and Love for Sports
(08:16) The Entrepreneurial Spark & Launching Ascend
(10:49) How to Balance Football, Business, and Academics
(14:50) Overcoming Setbacks, Injuries & Mental Blocks
(20:11) The Birth of Ascend Meditation App & Its Mission
(31:46) AI-Driven Personalization in Mental Wellness
(36:52) Supporting Student-Athletes Beyond the Field
(42:11) The Role of Mentorship and Mental Coaching
(44:44) How Mindfulness & Meditation Improve Performance
(49:59) Walker’s Daily Faith & Gratitude Practices
(52:51) What It Takes to Lead in Sports & Entrepreneurship
(58:29) Navigating Setbacks, Rejection & the Power of Persistence
(01:01:38) Advice for Young Athletes & Future Entrepreneurs
(01:03:32) Lightning Round: Fun & Rapid-Fire Questions
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