Hernando Planells

Hernando Planells, also known as Coach H, is a multifaceted leader who brings dynamic energy to every room he walks into.

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Hosted by

Hilmarie Hutchison

Hernando Planells

Coach, Actor, Culture Builder, and Technical Director at NBA Basketball School UAE

Hernando Planells, also known as Coach H, is a multifaceted leader who brings dynamic energy to every room he walks into.

A seasoned coach, actor, speaker, and culture builder, Hernando has worked with elite athletes, choreographed for major productions, and now serves as the Technical Director at the NBA Basketball School in the UAE. His past roles include coaching in the NBA G League, serving as an assistant coach at Duke University, and acting as Coach Derek in the hit Netflix series Forever.

With a passion for transformation, connection, and storytelling, Coach H is redefining leadership on and off the court.

About this Episode

In this inspiring episode of The Matrix Green Pill Podcast, host Hilmarie Hutchison sits down with Hernando Planells for a heartfelt conversation that bridges sports, leadership, personal growth, and reinvention.

From growing up in a multicultural household in Los Angeles to becoming a respected figure in professional coaching and global media, Hernando shares how his upbringing, failures, and faith shaped his life’s trajectory. He opens up about the lessons of fatherhood, his transition from a fiery young coach to what his son now calls the “super zen coach,” and the personal growth that came through navigating divorce and distance from his children.

Hernando gives listeners a behind-the-scenes look into his role on the Netflix series Forever and reflects on what it takes to lead in high-performance environments—from NBA courts to film sets. He emphasizes the power of belief surrounded by fear, the art of coaching beyond winning, and the importance of redefining success through service and character.

Throughout the conversation, Hernando’s authenticity and resilience shine. His “Green Pill” moment—a powerful story of personal transformation sparked by the courage to leave a stagnant marriage—reminds us that clarity often follows our toughest decisions.

This episode is a must-listen for coaches, leaders, creatives, and anyone striving to reinvent themselves while staying true to their purpose.

“ Just how to reinvent yourself over and over again, with all the different ups and downs, and I wouldn’t even call them failures even though sometimes they do call them failures really just opportunities to learn. I think you learn how to reframe things because in life it’s so up and down.”

Hernando Planells

“It’s never too late to reinvent yourself. It is never too late to take action on something, and that takes belief.”
Hernando Planells

Show highlights

The biggest leadership lesson is that we lead and we teach the way we were led and taught.-Hernando Planells Click To Tweet

“One of my biggest lessons is that when you love your people more, when you care for them and you think of them first, then everything changes.”

Hernando Planells

“You transform over time because you start understanding that your people, your players, your employees, whoever they are, they’re your people. You have been chosen to take care of them in many ways.”

Hernando Planells