In this episode of 11 Life Lessons From Stranger Things, Karen and Bill explore what it really means to get a coach and why even heroes need help to level up. From Kali guiding Eleven to unlock her full power, to Karen Wheeler reminding Nancy to go for it, to Steve Harrington (yes, Steve!) teaching Dustin how to find his confidence at the Snow Ball—Stranger Things shows us that great coaches help us see what’s already inside us.

Karen and Bill share their own experiences being both coaches and the coached, reflecting on how support, mentorship, and teamwork can help us fumble forward with purpose. They unpack the difference between a mentor, sponsor, and coach (with insights from Laurie Baedke’s Mentor, Coach, Lead to Peak Professional Performance) and discuss psychologist Robert Holden’s idea of “dysfunctional independence”—the belief that we have to go it alone.

The takeaway? None of us are meant to face the Upside Down by ourselves. Whether it’s a mentor who believes in you, a coach who challenges you, or a team who’s got your back, support is the superpower that helps your inner hero rise.