After a debilitating injury took her out of the game - literally - Christina Spinazola was forced to reevaluate everything. Once a scientist and athlete, she found herself in deep burnout until a single coaching session changed the trajectory of her life. In this episode of the Powerful Ladies Podcast, host Kara Duffy sits down with Christina to unpack how coaching helped her reclaim her power, find new purpose, and build a life of integrity, self-trust, and radical choice.

They talk about what real transformation looks like, the myths around the coaching industry, and why adventure, whether on the Pacific Crest Trail or inside your own mind, is often the key to expansion. Christina also shares her practical take on building self-trust, the role of language in reshaping identity, and why the best coaches walk alongside their clients, not ahead of them.

Chapters:

(00:00:00) Christina’s Injury, Identity Crisis, and How Coaching Changed Her Life

(00:03:30) From Skeptic to Coach: What Coaching Really Unlocks

(00:06:00) Redefining Coaching: Integrity, Trust, and Client-Led Growth

(00:08:30) Letting Go of Survival Mode and Choosing Something New

(00:11:00) The Pacific Crest Trail: Adventure, Identity, and Transformation

(00:14:30) Solo Travel, Safety, and Building True Self-Trust

(00:17:00) How Big Goals Start with Small Steps

(00:20:00) Using Science and Testing to Build a Life That Works

(00:22:30) Grace and Grit: The Dual Energy of Coaching

(00:25:00) What It Means to Lead Yourself Before Leading Others

(00:28:00) Navigating Pressure and Rewriting the Rules of Success

(00:30:00) Christina’s Wishlist: Who She Wants to Coach and Why Now

The Powerful Ladies podcast, hosted by business coach and strategist Kara Duffy features candid conversations with entrepreneurs, creatives, athletes, chefs, writers, scientists, and more. Every Wednesday, new episodes explore what it means to lead with purpose, create with intention, and define success on your own terms.

Whether you're growing a business, changing careers, or asking bigger questions, these stories remind you: you're not alone, and you're more powerful than you think.

Explore more at thepowerfulladies.com and karaduffy.com.

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