The Victory Degree

NBA writer and best-selling author Shea Serrano joins Nik Atanackovic on The Victory Degree Podcast to talk about his new book, Expensive Basketball — a love letter to the moments, feelings, and players that make the game beautiful.From Ray Allen’s jumper vs. Joakim Noah’s, to Tim Duncan’s quiet dominance, Shaq’s unstoppable force, and Kobe’s poetic 60-point farewell, this episode dives deep into the emotional side of basketball — the kind of stuff stats can’t explain.Topics Covered:- Why “Expensive Basketball” is about feelings, not numbers- Shea’s defense of Steph Curry’s magic and Shaq’s speed- The pain of the 2002 Kings-Lakers series (and why it still hurts)- Why Tim Duncan is Shea’s favorite player- LeBron’s rise from “great” to “greatest”- The beauty behind Kobe’s final gameConnect With Shea: Twitter: x.com/SheaSerranoInstagram: instagram.com/shea.serrano/Buy The Book: amzn.to/3JsAhQrConnect with Nik: Instagram: instagram.com/victorywithnik/Twitter: x.com/victorywithnikYouTube: youtube.com/@TheVictoryDegreeOther Episodes You May Enjoy:Josh DobbsSpotify: spoti.fi/4cmtQXuApple Podcasts: apple.co/4e9hmVBGeorge MumfordSpotify: spoti.fi/4bIywaRApple Podcasts: apple.co/45ltHBRDr. Jim LoehrSpotify: spoti.fi/3yyddu8Apple Podcasts: apple.co/3AcnX21

After serving two years in federal prison for money laundering, Chad Dunn rebuilt his life from the ground up, transforming pain into purpose.Once a promising athlete turned felon, Chad used his time behind bars to redefine his identity, confront his demons, and build a mission around helping others overcome their limitations.Today, he is a certified behavioral change specialist with over 20 years of experience in health, modern fitness, and human performance. Chad has trained NFL players, NBA prospects, and individuals recovering from catastrophic injuries, while co-founding and building MOVE Physical Therapy & Human Performance Center in Chandler, Arizona with his wife and business partner, Jackie.In this conversation, we discuss:- Why you should do hard things & face your fears - How prison became the best thing that ever happened to him- What it takes to rebuild your life and business from nothing- The power of true redemption- Does money make you happy& much more...Connect with Chad:Buy The Book: mindovervirtuallyeverything.com/Instagram: instagram.com/moveperformance/Website: moveperformance.com/Connect with Nik: Instagram: instagram.com/victorywithnik/Twitter: x.com/victorywithnikYouTube: youtube.com/@TheVictoryDegreeOther Episodes You May Enjoy:Josh DobbsSpotify: spoti.fi/4cmtQXuApple Podcasts: apple.co/4e9hmVBGeorge MumfordSpotify: spoti.fi/4bIywaRApple Podcasts: apple.co/45ltHBRDr. Jim LoehrSpotify: spoti.fi/3yyddu8Apple Podcasts: apple.co/3AcnX21

Taybor Pepper sits down with Nik to talk about the real side of the NFL — from getting cut by the 49ers just days into free agency, to what it’s actually like inside a Kyle Shanahan team meeting. He opens up about the chaos of bouncing between teams, the pressure of fighting for a roster spot every year, and how mindfulness helped him stay grounded through it all.They get into everything: NFL free agency stories, life as a long snapper, Robbie Gould’s mentorship, battling mental health, the mental toll of football, and what it takes to survive nearly a decade in the league.Connect with Taybor:Twitter: x.com/TayborSnappingInstagram: instagram.com/tayborsnapping/Connect with Nik: Instagram: instagram.com/victorywithnik/Twitter: x.com/victorywithnikYouTube: youtube.com/@TheVictoryDegreeOther Episodes You May Enjoy:Josh DobbsSpotify: spoti.fi/4cmtQXuApple Podcasts: apple.co/4e9hmVBGeorge MumfordSpotify: spoti.fi/4bIywaRApple Podcasts: apple.co/45ltHBRDr. Jim LoehrSpotify: spoti.fi/3yyddu8Apple Podcasts: apple.co/3AcnX21

At 22, Mike Flynt was kicked out of college football for fighting.37 years later, at 59 years old, he went back to finish what he started.This is the unbelievable true story of regret, redemption, and second chances.We talk about adversity, character, faith, and what it really means to never quit.In this episode:• How Mike turned his biggest regret into his greatest comeback• The power of adversity and why quitting is never an option• Lessons on faith, character, and choosing to be great• What a 59-year-old linebacker can teach us about lifeConnect with Mike:🎥 Watch The Seniors in theaters Sept 19Website: mikeflynt.comConnect with Nik: Instagram: instagram.com/victorywithnik/Twitter: x.com/victorywithnikYouTube: youtube.com/@TheVictoryDegreeOther Episodes You May Enjoy:Josh DobbsSpotify: spoti.fi/4cmtQXuApple Podcasts: apple.co/4e9hmVBGeorge MumfordSpotify: spoti.fi/4bIywaRApple Podcasts: apple.co/45ltHBRDr. Jim LoehrSpotify: spoti.fi/3yyddu8Apple Podcasts: apple.co/3AcnX21

Derek Sivers built and sold CD Baby for $22 million, walked away from fame, and chose a radically simple life. In this conversation, Derek shares the unconventional rules, frameworks, and mindset shifts that shaped his journey from overcoming fear to redefining success.If you’ve ever wondered how to find clarity in a noisy world, escape the trap of endless “inputs,” or design a life that’s truly yours, this episode is for you.In this episode, we cover:• The lessons Derek learned from selling CD Baby for $22M• Why fame is overrated and the hidden downsides no one talks about• How to turn fear into confidence with one simple rule• The dangers of consuming without creating and how to “run the program”• Useful vs. true: the mental framework that changes everythingDerek’s perspective is both refreshing and deeply practical — equal parts philosophy and tactical playbook.Connect with Derek:Website: sive.rs/Connect with Nik: Instagram: instagram.com/victorywithnik/Twitter: x.com/victorywithnikYouTube: youtube.com/@TheVictoryDegreeOther Episodes You May Enjoy:Josh DobbsSpotify: spoti.fi/4cmtQXuApple Podcasts: apple.co/4e9hmVBGeorge MumfordSpotify: spoti.fi/4bIywaRApple Podcasts: apple.co/45ltHBRDr. Jim LoehrSpotify: spoti.fi/3yyddu8Apple Podcasts: apple.co/3AcnX21

What does it really take to push human limits? Brett Hawke — Olympian, world-renowned swim coach, and coach in the Enhanced Games — joins me to reveal the uncomfortable truths about elite performance.From why “working harder” is the most dangerous advice in sports, to how recovery, self-belief, and even delusional confidence separate good athletes from great ones, this conversation will change how you think about success.In this episode, we discuss:- How comparison can unlock human potential- The dangerous myth of “just work harder”- How recovery became the real key to elite performance- The mindset shift that turns fear into Olympic goldConnect with Brett:Twitter: x.com/insidewithBHInstagram: instagram.com/hawkebr/Connect with Nik: Instagram: instagram.com/victorywithnik/Twitter: x.com/victorywithnikYouTube: youtube.com/@TheVictoryDegreeOther Episodes You May Enjoy:Josh DobbsSpotify: spoti.fi/4cmtQXuApple Podcasts: apple.co/4e9hmVBGeorge MumfordSpotify: spoti.fi/4bIywaRApple Podcasts: apple.co/45ltHBRDr. Jim LoehrSpotify: spoti.fi/3yyddu8Apple Podcasts: apple.co/3AcnX21

In this episode of The Victory Degree Podcast, I sit down with Aaron Golub, the first legally blind Division I football player, to talk about his inspiring journey from being picked last in childhood sports to playing at Tulane University and becoming an NFL free agent. Aaron opens up about the adversity he faced, the lessons he’s learned, and why he believes anything is possible with the right mindset, hard work, and persistence.What we cover in this conversation:- Overcoming adversity: how Aaron’s blindness became the driving force behind his discipline, grit, and success- The value of failure: why rejection and loss can be the greatest teachers in sports, business, and life- Leadership and resilience: lessons from football, public speaking, and entrepreneurship- Self-belief and mindset: reframing fear, handling judgment, and setting goals with long-term horizonsConnect with Aaron:Twitter: x.com/aaronjgolubLinkedIn: instagram.com/aaronjgolub/Connect with Nik: Instagram: instagram.com/victorywithnik/Twitter: x.com/victorywithnikYouTube: youtube.com/@TheVictoryDegreeOther Episodes You May Enjoy:Josh DobbsSpotify: spoti.fi/4cmtQXuApple Podcasts: apple.co/4e9hmVBGeorge MumfordSpotify: spoti.fi/4bIywaRApple Podcasts: apple.co/45ltHBRDr. Jim LoehrSpotify: spoti.fi/3yyddu8Apple Podcasts: apple.co/3AcnX21

Preston Rutherford, co-founder of Chubbies, joins me to share the unfiltered truth about building a $100M brand, the struggles behind the success, and what he’s learned about entrepreneurship, mindset, and resilience.In this conversation, we cover:- How four Stanford friends turned a joke into a $100M brand- The hardest moments building Chubbies and how they overcame them- Why self-limiting beliefs stop most people from starting- The balance between performance marketing and long-term brand building- Preston’s new venture Marathon and what he’s focusing on todayConnect with Preston:Twitter: x.com/PrestonRuther10LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/prestonr/Connect with Nik: Instagram: instagram.com/victorywithnik/Twitter: x.com/victorywithnikYouTube: youtube.com/@TheVictoryDegreeOther Episodes You May Enjoy:Josh DobbsSpotify: spoti.fi/4cmtQXuApple Podcasts: apple.co/4e9hmVBGeorge MumfordSpotify: spoti.fi/4bIywaRApple Podcasts: apple.co/45ltHBRDr. Jim LoehrSpotify: spoti.fi/3yyddu8Apple Podcasts: apple.co/3AcnX21

Former Seahawks center Justin Britt opens up like never before. From the highs of playing in the Super Bowl to the lowest moments of his career, he reveals the untold truths about football, mental health, and life after the NFL.In this episode, we discuss:The Super Bowl XLIX play that still haunts himHis battle with depression and walking away from the NFLPete Carroll’s leadership and why it changed his lifeThe truth about playing with Russell Wilson and Marshawn LynchHow he found purpose again through running marathonsConnect with Justin:TikTok: tiktok.com/@justinbritt.68Instagram: instagram.com/justinbritt68Connect with Nik: Instagram: instagram.com/victorywithnik/Twitter: x.com/victorywithnikYouTube: youtube.com/@TheVictoryDegreeOther Episodes You May Enjoy:Josh DobbsSpotify: spoti.fi/4cmtQXuApple Podcasts: apple.co/4e9hmVBGeorge MumfordSpotify: spoti.fi/4bIywaRApple Podcasts: apple.co/45ltHBRDr. Jim LoehrSpotify: spoti.fi/3yyddu8Apple Podcasts: apple.co/3AcnX21

From being overlooked and doubted to earning a $76M contract with the Buffalo Bills, Christian Benford’s story is a masterclass in resilience, faith, and relentless self-belief.In this episode, we dive deep into:- The tears, doubt, and sacrifices that fueled his journey- Why regret hurts more than failure- How faith gave him unshakable confidence- The mindset shifts needed to go from high school to college to the NFL- Why character development is more important than talent- Balancing football, family, and faith without losing yourselfChristian opens up about the struggles behind the success, what it really means to “be you,” and how staying grounded in faith and love can transform everything. A real look at what it takes to succeed at the highest level, on and off the field.Connect with Christian:Website: christianbenford.comInstagram: instagram.com/thetruecb_/Buy Stylish Safari: bit.ly/4lzmogkConnect with Nik: Instagram: instagram.com/victorywithnik/Twitter: x.com/victorywithnikYouTube: youtube.com/@TheVictoryDegreeOther Episodes You May Enjoy:Josh DobbsSpotify: spoti.fi/4cmtQXuApple Podcasts: apple.co/4e9hmVBGeorge MumfordSpotify: spoti.fi/4bIywaRApple Podcasts: apple.co/45ltHBRDr. Jim LoehrSpotify: spoti.fi/3yyddu8Apple Podcasts: apple.co/3AcnX21