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.
Pre-Zero Sports Talk
From Rock Bottom to Peak Performance | Don McLaughlin’s Transformation
What if hitting rock bottom was the wake-up call you never knew you needed?
Many of us chase success—money, titles, status—only to find ourselves burned out, unfulfilled, or lost. But what happens when everything you thought mattered no longer makes sense?
In this episode of Pre-Zero Sports Talk, host Sid Bensalah sits down with Don McLaughlin, a former trial lawyer turned wellness advocate and high-performance coach. After years of chasing external success, Don hit a breaking point that nearly cost him everything. But instead of staying there, he redefined his life’s purpose and built a framework for sustainable success—the CEO Flow State.
Don shares his deeply personal journey from burnout to clarity, revealing how self-acceptance, mental resilience, and daily habits transformed his life. Whether you're a leader, entrepreneur, athlete, or someone seeking meaning beyond achievement, this conversation will challenge you to rethink what success looks like.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
(00:00) – Introduction: Why this conversation matters
(02:00) – Don’s rock-bottom moment: The wake-up call that changed everything
(06:45) – Redefining success: Why chasing “more” is a dangerous cycle
(15:40) – Mental health in leadership: Why asking for help is a game-changer
(20:30) – The CEO Flow State: A framework for clarity, presence, and resilience
(27:10) – Breaking the burnout cycle: Daily habits for sustainable success
(32:55) – Self-forgiveness and the power of inner clarity
(38:00) – Movement as medicine: How nature and physical activity transformed Don’s mindset
(43:10) – Lightning Round: Don’s best advice, habits, and personal insights
(53:40) – Closing thoughts: One key takeaway for redefining success
🎧 Listen now and start redefining your path to success.
🔗 Follow Don McLaughlin:
Website: TheDreamExit.com
LinkedIn: Don McLaughlin
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