The Coaches Forum

When we find ourselves at midlife with the kids growing up and being more independent, so many of us start thinking, “I could do anything I want right now, what do I want to do?” The crossroads at this stage of life is different from any other developmental milestone we’ve been in, and it’s one that both my guest and I are experiencing along with you.

So today we’re diving deep into this topic with a returning guest, my friend and colleague Danielle Cohen, to share our experiences at this midlife crossroads, the patterns we see in all of us going through it, and a special new way for you to rest, reflect, and rise together with us.

In this episode you’ll hear:

[6:38] Trudi and Danielle reflect on the readjusting that a lot of folks are doing this year

[13:00] What has become such a core part of Trudi’s identity

[22:30] The activation that’s sprouting from Trudi’s experience at this age

[23:30] What’s been the most challenging in Danielle’s midlife journey

[25:09] The parts of Trudi’s midlife journey that weren’t ideal

[29:14] Danielle’s advice for where to start thinking through where YOU are at in your midlife journey (and what she wishes everyone at this age could do)

[32:50] How Trudi has changed things in her business lately to really honor this phase of life

[37:27] Danielle breaks down authentic capacity 

[42:10] One of the best practices to integrate at this stage of life, and how you can do this in person with Trudi and Danielle!

Join Trudi and Danielle in Vermont this October to pause, rest, reflect, and rise! https://danielle-cohen.thrivecart.com/rest-reflect-rise 

Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/equitycenteredcoaching

If you’re here, I’m willing to bet you started your business to create an impact in the world, to create change, and to help people make impactful shifts, right? But if lately you’ve been feeling disheartened, at a plateau, unsure how to keep showing up with everything going on in the world, or even ready to quit, I don’t want you to miss this episode! Because this week I’m breaking down my answer to how to keep working and growing when the world is on fire, what I see people struggling with in their businesses, and the 3 things you’re probably disconnected from if you’re falling out of love with your work.

In this episode you’ll hear:

[7:22] My reflections on my own significant transitions or expansions in my life

[8:25] A little BTS on the work I’ve been doing this year in my personal life

[11:10] The many faces of impact

[13:57] This next set of work after you’ve learned the basics of selling and putting your work into the world

Join us for our free Amplified Impact Thought-Leader Training for Experienced Coaches and Leaders who are here to create change in the world: https://trudilebron.com/free-training 

Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/equitycenteredcoaching 

It’s no secret that the coaching industry is experiencing a transition phase, and solid leadership skills are needed now more than ever. So in this episode I’m bringing you a conversation with emotional mastery and leadership coach, Jen Underwood, to talk about new levels of leadership, alignment, and the shifts that are happening (and need to happen!) in the coaching industry.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

[11:00] What Jen sees shifting in the coaching industry

[13:12] Trudi breaks down “value fatigue”

[16:22] The major social climate shifts that have affected the coaching world

[17:30] What the role is for coaches in our emerging social environment

[22:05] The things we CANNOT lose in our lives in spite of the heaviness in the world right now; and the role coaching can play

[30:50] Jen’s advice for what to work on next in your own personal development journey

[34:48] We break down showing up in alignment in the world

[38:44] Trudi explores another opportunity for coaching 

[40:37] The 3 skills ALL leaders in any area need

[42:05] Jen breaks down the #1 underexplored skill that could help you in your leadership, no matter what industry you’re in

Learn more about Jen and her work:

Website - https://jenunderwoodleadership.com/ 

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.underwood.355 

Instagram - https://instagram.com/jenunderwoodleadership/ 

_____

Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/equitycenteredcoaching

Get ready for a different kind of conversation today with my friend and publishing family, Tamela Gordon! Tamela is a talented writer and editor, and she’s joining me this week for a fun exploration of hood wellness, community care, and DEI work. 

In this episode you’ll hear:

[4:12] Tamela breaks down her book, Hood Wellness, and how it came to be

[8:40] What community care looks like

[18:22] Trudi and Tamela explore negativity bias

[21:44] Why self-work is so crucial when talking about community care

[27:00] Conversation and being in community

[33:53] What Tamela would love people to take away from her book

[37:22] Exploring the current social climate

[44:32] What people should be paying attention to right now around equity and inclusion practice

Pre-order Tamela’s book, Hood Wellness: Tales of Communal Care from People Who Drowned on Dry Land

Connect with Tamela on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shewritestolive 

Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/equitycenteredcoaching 

Get your notebooks out for this one, because my guest this week is one of the smartest people I’ve ever met and you’re gonna learn some things today! I’m joined for this conversation by Mina Raver, who builds noninvasive neuro-tech for neurodivergent professionals who struggle with productivity.

Get ready to get nerdy with us over this as we explore neurodivergence, what that means, and why it’s important—particularly in the context of business and personal development.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

[3:07] Mina breaks down the concept of neurodivergence

[7:02] The systems that lead to classifying people as neurotypical or neurodivergent

[9:10] How businesses can be responsible to neurodiversity

[10:02] The relationship between culture and cognitive functioning

[16:10] Similarities in patterns that exist between coaching practices and schools, systems, and communities

[18:42] Why it’s important that people are coming into awareness about their own neurodivergence in their 30s, 40s, and beyond

[25:45] White supremacy’s effect on neurodiversity

[32:20] Mina unpacks preserving neurodiversity

[39:40] Where to start if you want to improve your support of neurodiversity

Learn more about Mina Raver and her work:

https://www.catalystium.com/ 

https://betterceo.app/

Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/equitycenteredcoaching 

There are a lot of opportunities to be really dynamic with the way that we’re doing our coaching work, and facilitating the future is one of the ways to do that. Today I’m joined by my friend and colleague, Chris Wallace Caldwell to break down this intersection between coaching and facilitations for you. 

Chris has an extensive background in non-profit leadership, strategic planning, group facilitation, program development, and corporate social responsibility and she brings a particular skill in grasping the common elements of group work and the ability to synthesize a unified vision and focused path forward. Let’s dive in!

In this episode, you’ll hear:

[8:20] Trudi and Chris break down the titles of coach and facilitator

[15:27] Some of the dilemmas and misconceptions Chris has encountered in her facilitator role 

[20:15] We explore facilitation neutrality

[24:54] The power of consent in facilitation

[30:38] One of the skill gaps Trudi sees in the nonprofit space

[35:50] The things groups and organizations struggle with the most that coaching might be able to support

[48:24] One of the biggest skills a facilitator can hold

[54:17] The biggest opportunity in coaching in organizations

Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/equitycenteredcoaching 

Learn more about Chris:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-wallace-caldwell 

Website: https://catalysisllc.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswallacecaldwell/ 

How much of what you believe about yourself actually comes from generalized societal messages? Chances are, it’s quite a lot. But it doesn’t have to stay that way. In this episode, we’re exploring this and how to take back your brain! I’m joined by Kara Loewentheil, Master Certified Life Coach, the founder of The Feminist Self Help Society, host of the internationally top-ranked podcast UnF*ck Your Brain, and author of Take Back Your Brain. Let's dive in!

In this episode, you’ll hear:

[2:54] How Kara’s changed the way she talks about her work and how it opens up a new dimension

[5:35] Why she talks about coaching as a philosophical practice

[14:07] Kara’s coaching philosophy and breaking down Intersectional Feminist Coaching

[18:28] Where to start taking back YOUR brain

[21:11] The hardest thing about thought change

[39:36] This realization that pushed Trudi to start a business 10 years ago

[44:16] Why Kara loves intersectionality so much

Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/equitycenteredcoaching 

Learn more about Kara and her work: 

Website: https://schoolofnewfeministthought.com/  

Book: https://www.takebackyourbrainbook.com/  

Podcast: https://schoolofnewfeministthought.com/podcasts/  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karaloewentheil/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karaloewentheil/ 

What if you could scale your business WITHOUT social media? If you’re feeling burnt out and exhausted from trying to play the social media game to grow and scale your business, you don’t want to miss this episode! Today I’m joined by Sophie Kessner, a colleague and a former student for the Institute for Equity Centered Coaching who teaches people how to scale a social media optional business. 

Listen in as we unpack some harsh truths about social media, several more sustainable growth strategies, and how to start getting off the content creation hamster wheel.

In this episode you’ll hear:

[1:44] What motivated Sophie to become social media optional in her own businesses and how she grew to teach others to do the same 

[6:52] Some of the things she put down and upacked on her social media optional journey to regain her mental health

[8:25] Why diversity in your social life is so crucial

[10:28] How long it took Sophie and her business to transition into being social media optional, and the hardest parts of the journey

[16:50] What she reconnected with and picked up on her journey

[19:38] Sophie’s take on the sustainability of the influencer model and the hamster wheel of content creation in business

[22:32] Some harsh—and kinda cringy—realities of social media

[29:13] How you can start thinking about marketing that keeps you away from the hamster wheel and burnout of social media 

[36:00] The best website host for SEO growth

[41:32] Where to start on your own social media optional journey

LINKS: 

Learn more about Sophie and her work: https://sophiekessner.com/ 

Check out her blog for free easy-to-digest practical information you can start implementing today: https://sophiekessner.com/blog/ 

Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/equitycenteredcoaching 

Ever feel like you just can’t win in your business? Like you’re doing all the things the “experts” say to do to bring in clients, and it just isn’t working like it should? If so, you’re not alone. And you don’t want to miss this episode! (You might even want to grab a notebook, because what we’re dropping today is so juicy!)

Today I’m joined by my friend and guest, TaVona Denise. She’s a minimalist marketing strategist who helps coaches talk about what they do so they can book more of their favorite clients, and in this episode we’re breaking down how to attract and book your FAVORITE clients—not just any client—and do it in a way that doesn’t burn you out.

In this episode you’ll hear:

[5:34] The biggest lesson TaVona has learned on her journey to her own boutique lifestyle business

[7:21] THIS fundamental thing that will help you be so much more effective with your audience and when it’s extra important to take this step

[13:40] Trudi and TaVona explore the broader changes happening in the coaching industry. 

[21:58] The different between content creation and using social media as a marketing tool

[24:04] The ABCs of impact and where many coaches are getting it wrong

[28:16] Collaboration suggestions; what to avoid and how to do it right

Learn more about TaVona and her work:

IG: https://instagram.com/tavonadenise 

Website: https://tavonadenise.com   

Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/equitycenteredcoaching

If you’ve been curious about NLP (Neurolinguistic Programming), you don’t want to miss this episode, because we’re not just explaining it but breaking it down with a real critical eye. Today I’m joined by Kelley Oswin and Laura Slinn, two of the founders and coaches at Avalon Empowerment, to break this down for you. Let’s dive in!

In this episode, you’ll hear:

[3:30] How Kelley and Laura came into this style of coaching work and how Avalon Empowerment was born

[11:46] The way their work came to be centered around trauma awareness

[17:32] We break down our thoughts on coach supervision

[28:01] Laura and Kelley break down NLP and how they approach it

[35:10] The Evolved NLP they practice and teach at Avalon Empowerment

[36:30] Red flags to watch out for when NLP style modalities can be used manipulatively or as an abuse of power

[45:11] A breakdown of muscle testing and how it’s used in conjunction with NLP

[55:03] Inspiration where the coaching industry is going

Links:

https://www.avalonempowerment.com/ 

https://www.instagram.com/avalonempowerment/  

https://www.facebook.com/avalonempowerment   

Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/equitycenteredcoaching