Here we are at the last episode of the STaR Coach Show for 2025, as I’ll be taking some time off, as I usually do, to fully enjoy the holiday season. We have logged 50 episodes this year, exploring what it takes to build coaching skills, grow sustainable businesses, and develop authentic leadership. Coaching is all about the messy, uncertain, courageous work of transformation and building something meaningful. As I look toward 2026, I’m asking myself the same questions I’m asking you today: “What matters most? Where do I need to focus? How do I make sure I’m spending my energy on what actually moves the needle?” Here’s what I know: the problem isn’t that we don’t work hard enough; the problem is that we say YES to too many things, which scatters our energy and hinders our progress. We mistake busyness for progress. In today’s episode, I’m sharing my three words for 2026, along with guidelines for choosing your three words to serve as guideposts, decision filters, and energy anchors. You’ll learn about the year I’m choosing to create with my three words and why your three words might be exactly what you need, also. Join me now!

Show Highlights:

• Reflections on where we’ve been in 2025 (with 50 weekly episodes about building coaching skills, developing leadership capacity, and growing a sustainable business)
• From 2016 until now: 9 years of the STaR Coach Show!
• My three words for 2026:
• Refresh: I need to review my existing programs through fresh eyes and breathe new life into them.
• Uplevel: It’s time to bring on more team members so I can focus on doing my genius work with excellence.
• Bold: I need to be unapologetic about my offerings and do a better job of inviting people in.
• 2026 will be a milestone year for me in three ways: The 500th episode of the podcast, my 40th wedding anniversary, and a special year of integration
• Steps to choosing your three words
• Using your three words as guideposts and filters for each decision and action—a conscious framework for decisions
• Looking back on 2025 and forward to 2026
• Here’s a toast to you for a year of intentional growth, courageous decisions, action, and meaningful impact. I’ll see you in 2026!

Resources:

Get your free resource today to help you choose your Three Words for 2026: STaR Coach Show/473

Connect with Meg:

Get Meg’s FREE download, Finding Your Perfect Match: A Coach's Self-Reflection Guide.

Explore past episodes and other resources at www.STaRcoachshow.com. 

Explore the STaR Coach Community and see what’s available there for you!

Visit the STaR Coach Show YouTube Channel! Subscribe today! Join our live show taping on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 1 pm CT.

We are living in what some are calling “a loneliness epidemic.” The holidays, a time for celebrating our connections to each other, only amplify feelings of loneliness for many people. As we are more connected, digitally speaking, than ever before, we have never been more disconnected from one another as human beings. We are tackling this issue head-on today! I’m thrilled to bring you a timely interview with a husband-and-wife team that knows what it means to stick together in partnership. They give us insights into their unique partnership approach, the concept of “sticking together” in an organizational context, and practical strategies for building cohesive teams. Lee and Julie view their current work as the most important of their careers, as it addresses loneliness and the impaired social skills that have emerged since the COVID-19 pandemic in our country. This topic is essential to all of us who have lost our muscle of human connection, and we can rebuild it–one intentional step at a time. Are you ready to improve your connection skills? Join us now!

Dr. Lee Colan and Julie Davis-Colan co-founded The L Group in 1999, driven by a personal calling to equip and encourage leaders to achieve healthy growth. They are CEO advisors, executive coaches, and bestselling authors of 16 leadership books translated into 10 languages. Lee is a former chief human resource officer, organizational psychologist, and leadership consultant who has worked with some of America’s top companies. Julie is a corporate health strategist and leadership consultant who has spearheaded the implementation of corporate wellness initiatives for many of America’s leading organizations. In this episode, Lee and Julie discuss their collaborative work in leadership development, organized culture, and their newly released book: Healthy Leadership. Their next book will be published in September of 2026.  

Show Highlights:

• Lee and Julie’s writing process: Pinpointing what the world needs to hear (in their next book) through their consulting work
• Social skills are skills that need to be practiced.
• Multiple factors have contributed to loneliness since the COVID pandemic.
• Fact: We were born to connect. All of our efforts to live a healthy lifestyle (nutrition, exercise, good sleep, etc.) are canceled out by our lack of social connections.
• The quality of our relationships is integral to living a long, healthy life. 
• Action steps of Colan’s model to improve your connection skills:
• Reach out. “If you’re in line, get offline!” Everyone wants to be seen, heard, and acknowledged.
• Seek understanding. Find out the story behind the person and find common points of connection.
• Make memories. Initiate shared experiences, whether with new friends, old friends, or teams at work. 
• Check in. A text, voicemail, email, or phone call can help cement your connection to another person. Lean into both difficult and celebratory situations by showing up. 
• Rituals are an important part of connecting us and creating memories, whether with family, friends, or work teams. 
• Creating connections produces positive physiological and psychological outcomes.
• Even remote workers can create intentional points of connection within their teams. 
• One key takeaway from Dr. Lee: “Take one little baby step. Reach out to somebody today.”
• One key takeaway from Julie: “Make a commitment to reaching out to someone each day. Your life will be much more enjoyable, and you will be happier. It’s a beautiful thing.”

Resources:

Connect with Julie Davis-Colan and Dr. Lee Colan:

Website and book, Healthy Leadership: How to Thrive in the New World of Work

Connect with Meg:

Get Meg’s FREE download, Finding Your Perfect Match: A Coach's Self-Reflection Guide.

Explore past episodes and other resources at www.STaRcoachshow.com. 

Explore the STaR Coach Community and see what’s available there for you!

Visit the STaR Coach Show YouTube Channel! Subscribe today!

As an executive coach, I often focus on organizational leadership, but sometimes overlook the value of family-owned businesses. These businesses represent a significant portion of the global economy and are the backbone of many communities worldwide. Coaching in that space is very different from coaching in corporations. Navigating family dynamics, generational transitions, and business decisions makes the stakes incredibly high and deeply personal. Join us to hear a fresh perspective from today’s guest, who is living out his dreams in the family-owned business space with a burning desire to help others rise and face their challenges. 

Zach Del Monaco is a dynamic entrepreneur, inspirational speaker, and growth coach who captivates audiences with his powerful story–and he’s 23 years old! Known for his hit record speech, he shares his incredible journey overcoming adversity during spinal surgery, transforming the impossible into the possible. He went from living the darkest moments of his life to someone who helps others through life’s challenges. Through his insights, Zach empowers others to face their challenges and achieve their own remarkable success. 

Show Highlights:

• Zach’s story and how his incredible journey has unfolded
• Two options when facing a challenge
• Taking a bigger role in the family’s commercial construction business with a vision for building the company’s brand in the online world
• Breaking the resistance to his vision within the complexity of a family business and putting his stake in the ground
• Results over the past 1.5 years since Zach’s turning point in challenging his family to think differently
• Zach’s strategy in offering new transformational ideas for the business
• Differing communication and presentation skills are required in listening/learning, implementing/acting, and understanding others’ personalities.
• Understanding the value of the statement, “What got you HERE won’t get you THERE.”
• Overcoming challenges with drive and determination to find freedom ultimately
• The addictive, fired-up feeling from sharing with others to help them overcome challenges
• Takeaways about honoring legacy while pushing toward change

Resources:

Connect with Zach Del Monaco

Website and Instagram

Connect with Meg

Get Meg’s FREE download, Finding Your Perfect Match: A Coach's Self-Reflection Guide.

Explore past episodes and other resources at www.STaRcoachshow.com. 

Explore the STaR Coach Community and see what’s available there for you!

Visit the STaR Coach Show YouTube Channel! Subscribe today! Join our live show taping on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 1 pm CT. 

Does selling feel awkward or inauthentic? Today, we’re covering how you speak, teach, and bring a conversation to a sales conversion in an ethical, authentic, and effective way that feels good. Your expertise, wisdom, and life experiences could help people transform their lives, but you are leaving money on the table! We will bust through the myth that you “need to find your voice.” You already have your voice! Let’s strip away the mask and the layers that cover it so you can show up authentically!

Joel Bauer has trained some of the world’s top income-producing speakers, presenters, and online marketers to monetize their life experiences, both online and offline. A few notable trainees are Russell Brunson, Alex Hormozi, Dan Kennedy, Jordan Belfort, and Peng Joon, among others. For decades, Joel’s principles have set the bar for speaking, teaching, and closing at the very highest level, and there are over 2 million graduates of his program. By applying Joel’s strategies, you can break free from limitations, design your destiny, and monetize your expertise like never before. You’ll learn why implementing Joel’s strategies requires no talent, only technique. Joel explains how to give massive value without expectation, how to package and position your life’s work in high-ticket offers, and why you should never give away your consulting time for free. 

Show Highlights:

• It’s not about talent; it’s about technique!
• Podcasts, like the STaR Coach Show, are the most valuable social media platform.
• Undervaluing your time
• Joel’s philosophy of NEVER taking anyone’s money unless he knows he can help them succeed
• Examples of unbelievable success from those who have implemented Joel’s strategies
• The value of accountability partnerships
• 3 moves for success:
• Preframe (Project them into the solution.)
• Verification of the Silent Salesman (It’s how you “wrap” the package.)
• Your Call-to-Action (What are you offering? The key is your money-back guarantee.)
• Being the greatest mentor in the world for the person who chooses you, trusts you, listens to you, and succeeds by implementing your techniques
•  How love and like are different 
• “Permission to reveal” technique as a transformational strategy in offering your service
• Value of letting people know what they CAN do
• Present, Persuade, and Preserve technique
• AI is never going to replace coaches and mentors
• Why you don’t need a large audience 
• Don’t pass up Joel’s free gifts!

Resources:

Connect with Joel Bauer

Website and Instagram

Gift #1: Visit Joel’s Website to get Peng Joon’s “10 Moves to $10 Million.” It’s a free PDF download in audio and video versions.

Gift #2: Visit Joel’s Instagram, @JoelBauerMentor, and DM the comment “5 Moves” to receive the complete “5 Moves to Authority” program, a $5000 value! 

Connect with Meg

Get Meg’s FREE download, Finding Your Perfect Match: A Coach's Self-Reflection Guide.

Explore past episodes and other resources at www.STaRcoachshow.com. 

Explore the STaR Coach Community and see what’s available there for you!

Visit the STaR Coach Show YouTube Channel! Subscribe today! Join our live show taping on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 1 pm CT. 

The trap that almost all coaches fall into is assuming that experience eliminates the need for curiosity in growing our businesses. In today’s episode, I’m sharing personal revelations from leading the Enroll More Clients Clarity Sprint. I’ve rediscovered my message by doing every exercise along with the participants, and I’ve learned that even experienced coaches need curiosity to keep their practices fresh and avoid stagnation. Today’s focus is on the elements of magnetic messaging and why coaches should use their clients’ language instead of “coach speak.” We can’t assume that our experience eliminates the need for curiosity, so let’s talk about why that’s a dangerous assumption, what we can miss along the way, and what happened when I chose differently.

Show Highlights:

• Reasons why experienced coaches stop doing “the work” they ask their clients to do
• Get out of the clouds and speak your client’s language.
• Three elements of magnetic messaging: clarity, conciseness, and confidence
• Understanding the transformation path
• Focused repetition and daily immersion in skills development
• Getting trapped in analysis paralysis
• Curiosity and keeping your practice fresh and alive
• Isolation vs. collaboration
• Community vs. “figuring it all out by myself”
• The Star Coach Community: what we offer 
• Give yourself the gifts of clarity, community, collaboration, and mentorship. Enrollment is only open for a few more days! Click here to learn more.

Resources:

Connect with Meg

Get Meg’s FREE download, Finding Your Perfect Match: A Coach's Self-Reflection Guide.

Explore past episodes and other resources at www.STaRcoachshow.com. 

Explore the STaR Coach Community and see what’s available there for you!

Visit the STaR Coach Show YouTube Channel! Subscribe today! Join our live show taping on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 1 pm CT.

We begin with a mind-blowing statistic: 78% of people believe that we have a leadership crisis in corporate America. People aren’t leaving bad jobs; they are leaving bad leaders. Leadership isn’t about power, but it’s about people. In today’s episode. We are diving deep into what it takes to build genuine relationships at work. These relationships have a direct impact on productivity, retention, and team success. You’ll learn why leading with empathy beats leading with ego, every single time. Investing time in your people up front saves you countless hours down the road. Are you ready to discover how leading with empathy can be the game-changer you’re looking for in your leadership style? Join us now!

William Davis is a speaker, mentor, and leadership expert who has spent 38 years leading and uplifting teams. He has become a trusted voice in leadership, blending decades of experience with a genuine passion for guiding others and building success, one relationship, one project, and one person at a time. Loyalty, support, guidance, and empathy form the foundation of his leadership style, and his track record proves that his leadership principles steer organizations to success by fostering trust and accountability. 

Show Highlights:

• Shocking statistics around leadership challenges and a world leadership crisis
• The disconnect in corporate leadership today (Having leadership skills is NOT a given.)
• “Do I even want to be a leader?”
• William’s #1 tip for identifying good leaders: Observe how they treat their families.
• Building relationships in the workplace focusing on connection and interaction
• Making sure your people are safe and secure in their roles to succeed and grow
• A good ROI is not always monetary in nature
• Watching your people succeed is the greatest testament to your career
• True leadership includes being supportive and uplifting to others
• Treating team members equitably, giving credit where it’s due, and creating a supportive environment
• William’s key takeaway about genuine relationships in the workplace 
• Emotional maturity as a leader

Resources:

Connect with William Davis

Website

LinkedIn

Facebook

Book - How to Lead without Just Managing(The Leadership Blueprint Book)

Book - Building Genuine Relationships

Connect with Meg

*Struggling to enroll more clients? Sign up today for our Enroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint 5-Day Challenge! It’s free, and we begin on November 10. Get clarity that makes enrolling clients feel natural, not pushy! 

Get Meg’s FREE download, Finding Your Perfect Match: A Coach's Self-Reflection Guide.

Explore past episodes and other resources at www.STaRcoachshow.com. 

Explore the STaR Coach Community and see what’s available there for you!

Visit the STaR Coach Show YouTube Channel! Subscribe today! Join our live show taping on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 1 pm CT.

Today’s topic is a common experience for many listeners, whether in the present, future, or the rear-view mirror. We are discussing the all-important decision to leave the corporate world to leap into entrepreneurship. Our conversation explores the practical and emotional aspects of transitioning from employee to entrepreneur, including overcoming imposter syndrome, building effective networks, and strategically scaling a business. Join us to learn more!

Kym Insana, founder of Always On Digital, shares her journey from corporate digital marketing executive to successful entrepreneur. She built a multimillion-dollar, woman-owned agency serving major brands, like the US Air Force, Johnston & Murphy, and Enfamil. When Kym left a demanding NYC career in advertising to build Always On Digital, her goal was to find flexibility and balance as a wife and mother of four. Her company thrives by empowering talented working parents to blend career success with family life. Kym is a sought-after speaker who has shared her journey and expertise on several national stages and media outlets. 

Show Highlights:

• Kym’s motivation to transition from employee to entrepreneur
• Coming from the place of “What I NEED doesn’t exist; I’ll create it myself.”
• Kym’s practical strategies to build your business:
• Ask, “What do I want this to look like?” (having a clear vision)
• Work backwards from that point to figure out the details. (Reverse-engineer your dream!)
• Self-motivation is essential!
• Dealing with imposter syndrome
• Accepting that you may not be the right fit for every client, but you are an expert
• Handling rejection with a “Who else is out there?” attitude
• Building networks by going to your allies first
• Hiring people for fractional roles as you build traction
• Growth and scaling phase, as you build momentum
• Taking the step to commit to full-time employees and serious operational costs
• Finding the balance between sales and customer service
• Kym’s unique approach to building her team 

Resources:

Connect with Kym Insana

Website

LinkedIn (Kym would love to connect with you through LinkedIn! Tell her you are a STaR Coach Show listener!)

Kym’s profile: AccessSpeakers.biz/speaker/kym-insana-speaker-digital-marketing-expert-business-owner

Connect with Meg

Struggling to enroll more clients? Sign up today for our Enroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint 5-Day Challenge! It’s free, and we begin on November 10. Get clarity that makes enrolling clients feel natural, not pushy! 

Get Meg’s FREE download, Finding Your Perfect Match: A Coach's Self-Reflection Guide.

Explore past episodes and other resources at www.STaRcoachshow.com. 

Explore the STaR Coach Community and see what’s available there for you!

Visit the STaR Coach Show YouTube Channel! Subscribe today! Join our live show taping on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 1 pm CT. 

As our world becomes increasingly connected, we work with teams spanning continents, cultures, and contexts. What works brilliantly in one culture can completely miss the mark in another. For example, silence in a meeting might mean respect, not disengagement. Humility might be mistaken for a lack of leadership potential, and direct communication styles can either build trust or create distance, depending on who’s listening. If you’re ready to stop making assumptions and get curious about the people you lead and coach, this episode is for you. Join us!

Dr. Ling Hua is an ICF-certified executive leadership coach and former global biotech executive. In today’s episode, she discusses the critical importance of cultural awareness in leadership and shares helpful tips and techniques we can put into practice. Dr. Ling has become an expert in something the world needs more of: leading with cultural respect. Drawing on her experience working across three continents, she explores how leaders and coaches can navigate high- and low-context communication styles, avoid cultural assumptions, and create inclusive environments for diverse teams. 

Show Highlights:

• Understanding what it means to lead with cultural respect 
• High-context vs. low-context communication styles: reading non-verbal cuesFactoring cultural differences into performance reviews
• Mistakes in cross-cultural relationships happen when we don’t understand humility vs. assertiveness.
• Dr. Ling’s tips for cultural awareness in different types of organizations
• The impact of coaching and a coaching mindset on diversity within organizations and individuals
• Dr. Ling’s observations about the evolution of company culture and overall cultural awareness in organizations
• Dr. Ling’s key takeaways about cultural respect in leadership:
• Don’t assume, ask questions.
• Adapt your approach.
• Look beneath the surface.
• Meet people where they are.
• Remember, our differences make us stronger, not weaker. 
• Don’t miss our Enroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint 5-Day Challenge! It’s free, and we begin on November 10.

Resources:

Connect with Dr. Ling Hua

LinkedIn

Email

Recommended resources for leaders to raise their cultural awareness:

The Culture Map by Erin Meyer and a Harvard Business Review article

“Develop Cultural Intelligence to Lead Global Teams,” by Dr. David Livermore (May 2025)

Connect with Meg

Struggling to enroll more clients? Sign up today for our Enroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint 5-Day Challenge! It’s free, and we begin on November 10. Get clarity that makes enrolling clients feel natural, not pushy! 

Get Meg’s FREE download, Finding Your Perfect Match: A Coach's Self-Reflection Guide.

Explore past episodes and other resources at www.STaRcoachshow.com. 

Explore the STaR Coach Community and see what’s available there for you!

Visit the STaR Coach Show YouTube Channel! Subscribe today! Join our live show taping on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 1 pm CT. 

Have you ever found yourself staring at your to-do list, desperately wanting to work, but somehow—-NOT working? You’re scrolling through social media, reorganizing your desk, making another coffee—-doing anything but the thing you actually need to do. You are not lazy or broken, and according to today’s guest, your problem isn’t willpower; it’s neuroscience. Are you ready to achieve more with brain-based strategies? Join us for a conversation that will change how you think about productivity. 

Robin J. Emdon, known as “the procrastination slayer,” shares his personal journey from chronic procrastination to accountability coach. After realizing that he took 10 years to complete a 6-year degree due to procrastination, Robin researched the neuroscience behind productivity and wrote Get Resultsology®: The Science of Getting Stuff Done. He explains procrastination through brain science, describing the conflict between threat modality and reward modality. He introduces his “inner productivity team,” the Conductor, the Fun-Sized Warrior, and the Scholar. His work emphasizes that accountability is the critical missing link for sustained productivity, citing research that shows a 33% improvement in goal achievement with the proper accountability structure. Robin’s signature momentum formula, “Do it today–Profit tomorrow–Repeat,” helps clients worldwide turn daily action into meaningful progress and attainable success. He does this from his quiet corner on England’s southwest coast. 

Show Highlights:

• Robin’s journey: a 2019 face-palm moment that changed everything
• The prevalence of procrastination 
• The COVID-19 shutdown—and an opportunity to do meaningful research
• Robin’s embarrassment about his procrastination problem
• The structure of Robin’s book, GetResultsology®: The Science of Getting Stuff Done, divided into three specific sections
• “Money is infinite; you can always make more. Your time and life are finite. Procrastination greatly impacts your ‘time account’.”
• Momentum is the missing link to productivity—and this creates lifestyle freedom.
• To get into “the productivity groove,” you need an inner productivity team: the Conductor (dopamine), the Fun-Sized Warrior (noradrenaline), and the Scholar (acetylcholine).
• Assessing your threat modality vs. your reward modality
• Understanding accountability–and how it drives results

Resources:

Connect with Robin J. Emdon

Website, LinkedIn, and Goalbusters Podcast

Get your FREE PDF copy of Robin’s book, GetResultsology®. Click here. 

Catch Meg’s appearance on Robin J. Emdon’s Goalbusters Podcast. Click here.

Connect with Meg

Get Meg’s FREE download, Finding Your Perfect Match: A Coach's Self-Reflection Guide.

Explore past episodes and other resources at www.STaRcoachshow.com. 

Explore the STaR Coach Community and see what’s available there for you!

Visit the STaR Coach Show YouTube Channel! Subscribe today! Join our live show taping on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 1 pm CT. 

It’s time to celebrate! This week marks 9 years of the STaR Coach Show, so I’m doing something special in today’s episode. I’m pulling back the curtain on the entire journey, sharing the lessons that built this show, the mistakes I’ve made along the way, and the unexpected gifts that come from showing up every week for 9 years.

What matters most is that I’m sharing the most impactful strategy from each phase of the journey, and these are steps you can implement right away. Whether you are considering starting a podcast, offering a course or program, or trying to figure out the consistency element in your own vision, this episode is for you. Join me now, and stick around until the end for a special gift offer!

Show Highlights:

• The beginning, October 16, 2016: My fears about this new endeavor
• Act I:
• Then vs. Now (The podcasting world was a much different place in 2016!)
• No regrets, only resilience and a commitment to my vision

My “one thing” from Act I:

“Stop waiting for the perfect timing.”

Act II:

• Lessons learned:
• Starting is better than perfect.
• I need to partner with genius.
• Know your audience deeply.
• Create systems for a smoother workflow.
• My “one thing” from Act II: “Identify one thing that could derail your biggest business initiative, and figure out how to partner with someone whose genius can remove that obstacle.”

Act III:

• The beautiful benefits and wins over the years are many.
• Your creations allow your work to be in front of more people as they get to know who you are and what you do.
• Meaningful feedback is heartwarming and encouraging.
• My “one thing” from Act III: “When you commit to serving your audience consistently with genuine generosity, the benefits will compound in ways you can never predict.”

Act IV:

• My honest regrets: What I wish I had done differently
• Overcoming hesitancy in letting your audience know what you need from them
• My invitation to join our Know Your People FREE 5-Day Challenge (Find out more at STaR Coach Show.)
• My “one thing” from Act IV:
• “Don’t wait years to ask for what you need. Invite your audience to engage NOW.”

3 questions to ask about doing something new in your business:

• How does it serve my audience?
• How does it align with my passion?
• Will it hold my interest?

Resources:

Connect with Meg

Get Meg’s FREE download, Finding Your Perfect Match: A Coach's Self-Reflection Guide.

Explore past episodes and other resources at www.STaRcoachshow.com. 

Explore the STaR Coach Community and see what’s available there for you!

Visit the STaR Coach Show YouTube Channel! Subscribe today! Join our live show taping on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 1 pm CT.