A Path of Mastery

In this episode of The Coaching Life Podcast, Phil Goddard sits down with Rishi for a deep and moving conversation about the search for meaning, the twists of self-discovery, and what it truly means to live a fulfilling life.

In This Episode:

• How an existential crisis sparked a journey of transformation

• The role of philosophy, spirituality, and psychology in shaping our reality

• Navigating uncertainty and finding peace in the unknown

• Lessons from personal struggle, deep reflection, and letting go

• The power of deep listening and presence in coaching

• What it truly means to serve clients beyond techniques and formulas

• Why fulfilment isn’t about fixing life, but embracing it as it is

This conversation goes beyond coaching—it’s about the universal human experience, the search for truth, and the courage to live fully.

Here’s a little more about Rishi:

Rishi Rongala’s work is in shifting the way people experience themselves and their world. As a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coaching Federation (ICF), he works with leaders, entrepreneurs, and teams to create real impact—not by teaching more strategies, but by helping them cut through the noise of overthinking, self-doubt, and conditioned patterns.

With a background spanning startups, enterprise risk, and financial consulting, Rishi’s journey into coaching wasn’t a planned career move. It was a relentless personal exploration—through the intersections of psychology, philosophy, and spirituality—that led him to see human potential beyond conventional wisdom.

This led to Rishi founding a boutique coaching firm called Paradigm Shift specialising in transformative coaching. His clients don’t just come for frameworks or strategies. They come for something much rarer—a space where they can see themselves more clearly than ever before. And in that space, things shift. They lead with more presence, make decisions with more clarity, and move forward without the second-guessing that used to slow them down.

Whether it’s a business leader making high-stakes decisions with ease, an entrepreneur navigating uncertainty without stress, or a professional stepping into their full presence, the shift is always the same—less effort, more impact.

You can find out more about Rishi at https://rishirongala.com/

The Accidental Coach

What has really struck me in my conversations with Ian, and in reading his throughly beautiful book, The Tao of Homeopathy, is that everything in homeopathy is applicable in some way to masterful coaching. We explore this and more in this wholesome exploration of healing and what it is to be human.

Phil & Ian discuss:

* Ian’s expansion of his work into coaching.

* The miracle ‘cure’ of Phil’s back & knee pains, & the interconnected nature of everything.

* What is healing and how it is different from curing.

* How the Tao Te Ching is applicable and can help us in coaching and all of our relationships.

* Being you versus Being present.

* Teaching vs Educating, and getting to truly know ourselves.

* The role of susceptibility in getting sick and healing.

* What does it mean to follow the path of ease?

Here’s a little more about Ian:

Ian Watson is an educator, author and facilitator who has worked in the field of well-being, holistic healing and inner transformation since1988. Ian became well known as a homeopathic practitioner and writer, and he subsequently went on to pursue a deeper understanding of mental and emotional health.

This led to the study and practice of a wide variety of disciplines including Journey Process work, Emotional Freedom Technique, Shen Physio-emotional Release Therapy, Jungian psychology, Byron Katie work, family constellations and Hakomi technique.

In 2011 he trained in the Three Principles paradigm discovered by Sydney Banks, and this psycho-spiritual understanding has been the foundation of his work ever since. Ian has been invited to share his understanding with schoolchildren, health professionals, business leaders and countless individuals and groups in the UK and overseas.

Further information at: www.theinsightspace.com

Exploring Human Experience

A special episode in which Phil responds to some queries raised by Tibi, and they explore together how we create our experience and our most compassionate way of Loving Being Human.

Phil & Tibi discuss:

* Are we really 100% responsible for our experience?

* Goddard’s Law of Spiritual Exploration.

* How can we be compassionate towards everyone?

* Dysfunctional compassion.

* How are boundaries misused?

* What’s our role in relating with people who have ‘wounds’?

* What’s the point of forgiveness?

* Phil’s story of understanding his father.

* Handling things that irritate us.

Tibi Sátor is a Coach, Creator, Husband and Dad.

He specialises in Relationship and Parenting Coaching.

You can connect with Tibi here:

http://facebook.com/tibor.sator

And subscribe to his newsletter here:

tiborsator.substack.com

Ethics, Cults and Coaching Integrity

In a necessary conversation for all coaches and service professionals, Sara and Phil talk in-depth about ethics, cults, integrity, and how important it is for us to be aware of unhealthy aspects of our desires to help others.

Topics of conversation include:

* When and when not to share our writing.

* Embellishment on social media.

* The power dynamics between a coach and client, and the required care and awareness of these dynamics.

* Unhealthy aspirations and how some teachings can distance us from ourselves.

* The importance of expressing emotions.

* The ethics of charging and being transparent with costs of time, energy and money.

* Non-duality - what is it? What use is it?

* The role of a coach in this exploration.

* Manipulation and cult-like behaviour in some communities.

* What are the elements of a cult, what’s the appeal and how do people end up involved in them.

* What specifically do coaches need to be aware of, to ensure they operate with integrity?

Here’s a little more about Sara:

Sara brings a wealth of experience to her work as a coach and spiritual mentor. She firmly believes in empowerment and support. She has a focus on our true self, learning to love all of ourselves, and gently disentangling anything that gets in the way. She is also an advocate for those who've been through cult-like groups, and is a special advisor to the Association for Spiritual Integrity. You'll find her in her garden shed with at least a couple of cats, a big mug of coffee, and always open to chat.

You can connect with Sara here:

https://www.sarapriestley.com/

Bringing Love to the Boardroom

With over 3 decades of coaching experience, Elizabeth works with senior leaders who have responsibility for hundreds of thousands of people and hundreds of millions of dollars. She brings a wholesome humanness into her work of helping her clients Love Being Human.

In this episode Phil & Elizabeth discuss:

* The importance of only sharing what you have lived.

* What are the 4 things that everyone wants?

* How do we help people understand what they really want?

* A deeper meaning of rapport.

* How she helps people connect with what they really really want.

* Speaking truth in service to a client.

* Being with our wounds and how they can be our greatest gifts in coaching.

* The codification of Spirit and its distraction from truth.

* Bringing spiritual and loving conversations into the boardroom.

* The importance and power of alignment.

* Being able to describe what we do, after the fact.

* Using Social Media, networking and woking in community.

And one of my favourite ever distinctions:

* Sizzle & Sausage.

Here’s a little more about Elizabeth:

Elizabeth Lovius specialises in giving leaders the headspace to lead with humanity, heart and wisdom.

She is an international coach, speaker, author, award winning trainer, facilitator and social entrepreneur. She is the founder of one of the first 100 B-corps in the UK, where the focus is on business as a force for good. 

For over 25 years, Elizabeth has worked across most business sectors including: Hospitality, Food, Retail, Manufacturing IT, Banking, Government, Healthcare, Creative Media, TV, Social Enterprise, Start-up and Sports. 

She has discovered that what really works to deliver business prosperity is the capacity of leaders to understand the human factor; what makes us all tick. As AI starts to influence our approach to everything - the human factor will become increasingly important.

Elizabeth offers clarity, openness and insight. Through an empowering mix of deep compassion and razor-sharp challenge, she supports people to access their own game-changing insights; liberating their potential and performance.


In business, Elizabeth knows big relationships are the source of big results so a particular area of speciality is helping people connect, collaborate, innovate and work well together to align and succeed.

You can find out more about Elizabeth here:

https://www.elizabethlovius.com/

and her Deep Dive Leadership Wisdom Retreats:

https://www.elizabethlovius.com/leadershipretreat-1

Episode102 - Anna Koukoullis

Opera Dreams of Social Impact

A former aspiring international opera singer whose career took an unexpected turn due to a vocal injury, Anna shares her inspiring journey from the stages of conservatoires and international venues to finding a new calling as a social impact coach.

Anna & Phil discuss:

* Anna’s early aspirations and training as an international opera singer, and details about the vocal injury that ended that career.

* Her transition to social impact coach and the new sense of purpose it brought.

* The importance of mindset, resilience, and dealing with performance anxiety.

* The role of spirituality in her singing and overall approach to life.

* How her cultural heritage from Greek Cypriot and Irish backgrounds influenced her values and have shaped her passion for social justice.

* The importance of authenticity and real-life experiences in building connections with others.

Here’s a little more about Anna:

Anna Koukoullis is a former opera singer turned Social Value expert and Performance Coach, whose journey from the stage to the corporate world underscores her commitment to uplifting others. Throughout her corporate career, she led a national, award-winning social value team dedicated to inspiring and assisting vulnerable young people and marginalised communities with employability and career support. Under her visionary leadership, the team secured over £80 million in project wins, with clients experiencing over £1 million in social return on investment and consistently rating services 9/10 for quality and impact.

Motivated by her engagement with unemployed youth, Anna authored the influential industry paper "Forgotten Youth," which explores how businesses can enhance social mobility for young people in the UK. This led to her appointment to lead, coach, and champion the business's EDI team, helping to unlock and enable initiatives to improve staff well-being and attract, recruit, and retain diverse talent in construction.

In 2024, Anna founded Social Impact Coach to further her mission of helping businesses deliver the 'S' in ESG. Through consultancy and one-to-one coaching, she empowers businesses to deliver social value and helps individuals reach their full potential.

Beyond her consultancy, Anna is a respected author, public speaker, and adviser on social mobility, talent development, skills, and education. She collaborates with esteemed organisations such as the Chartered Institute of Building and is a proud member of the Worshipful Company of Constructors.

Anna’s unwavering dedication to social mobility and inclusivity, combined with her unique blend of creativity, strategic insight, and heartfelt collaboration, continues to drive meaningful change by bringing people and ideas together to create practical and demonstrable value-add opportunities.

You can connect with Anna on LinkedIn here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-koukoullis-671a2068/

And on Instagram at:

https://www.instagram.com/agkoukou/

and

https://www.instagram.com/social_impactcoach/

Be Thou My Vision

This is an episode I have wanted to create for a long time.

Maria was a client almost a decade ago, at the time she was dating the man who she would marry, and be with on his journey through cancer, and eventually his passing.

This is a story of love, passion and loss.

It is a very moving conversation, one that moved me to tears.

It is raw. It is direct.

It is human, and a necessary listen for us all.

Outro music: From my Star - Andrea Bizzotto

Here's a little more about Maria:

Maria Brandt studied political communication and successfully coordinated projects in the fields of labor market policy and science for many years. In 2016, her husband Andrea was diagnosed with sarcoma, a rare and very aggressive cancer, while Maria was pregnant with their second child. The period of illness and Andrea’s early death profoundly changed Maria and her life.

Today, Maria Brandt dedicates herself full-time to the fight against cancer, focusing especially on those with rare cancers. In her inspiring lectures and readings, she shares the impressive story of her family. She talks about the challenges of the disease, the strains of treatment, how she was able to accompany her husband in his final days, and what we can learn from death for life.

Maria Brandt has captured her experiences and insights in her book “The Answer is Love.” She is currently working on her next book. Maria lives with her two children, Fynn and Giulia, in Witten, Germany, and travels across Europe for her work. Her lectures and commitment offer hope and support to many affected individuals. Let yourself be inspired by Maria Brandt’s story and discover how love and hope can provide strength in difficult times.

You can follow Maria on Instagram here:

https://www.instagram.com/marialaura2827/

The Sarcoma Patient Advocacy Global Network is here:

https://www.sarcoma-patients.org/

Andrea performing his song for Giulia Grace:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UDnOmXEMbs

Andrea’s Book is available here:

https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Andrea-Bizzotto/dp/1694058379

https://www.amazon.it/-/en/Andrea-Bizzotto/dp/1694058379

Maria has a book, published in German, ‘The Answer is Love’ available here:

https://www.amazon.de/Die-Antwort-Liebe-Maria-Brandt/dp/B0B3SDFBSQ/

From Breakfast to Bali - A 100 Episodes Special

(In conversation with Reno Winston)

In this special 100th episode, Reno Winston takes the reins to ask

Phil all about his Coaching Life. Together they discuss:

* Breakfast !!

* The beauty in simplicity and ordinariness of life.

* Being at ease when life isn’t easy.

* The importance & benefits of daily practice.

* Phil’s experience of time with ‘The Ultimate Coach’

* Being hoodwinked by believing we’ve found something.

* Self creation and Self discovery.

* Some BS tropes in the coaching profession.

* Living with dirty little secrets.

* Phil’s story of moving to Bali, what he misses & what he lost there.

* His renewed love for England.

* Honouring our needs.

* The finesse of poking the bear.

Huge thanks to Reno Winston for hosting this conversation.

You can find out more about Reno here:

https://itjustgotreno.com/

A Necessary Conversation About the Coaching Profession

One my lawyers advised me against… ;)

Kim makes her 3rd appearance on the podcast to discuss with Phil aspects of the coaching profession that are not necessarily serving in the most impactful way.

They shine a light on:

* The two worlds of Coaching

* The monoculture of the Coaching Pyramid

* The Bullshit of Social Media

* The impact of creating a business in survival mode

* Why it’s worth considering what you really want to create

* The importance of real-world experience

And other aspects of the coaching profession.

Here’s a little more about Kim:

Kim Kaase is a Leadership coach and strategist who can help you build a business you love - without hustle, hassle and ‘have tos’.

She believes it’s possible to achieve success without striving, feeling you have to ‘prove yourself’ - or make sacrifices.

And that trusting yourself enough to follow your own unique path - and giving yourself permission to do it your way - is the key to unlocking your ‘next level’ of success (whatever that might look like for you).

Before creating her coaching practice in 2012, Kim was a key leader at a top 10 Knoll dealer rising through the ranks of Design Director to VP of Sales and Professional Services – with no sales experience. She lives in Houston, Texas with her 18 year old son and her husband and also hold the honor of being Chief Tasting Officer for their business, Sweet Bribery.

You can connect with Kim using links at https://linktr.ee/kimkaase

Building from Disappointment

As promised in episode 051 just 67 weeks ago, Philippe is back on the podcast :D

In a very real, raw and honest conversation, we share & discuss:

* Reflecting on ‘Honoured the Path of the Heart’? - the title of our previous episode.

* Philippe’s initial resistance to getting married a second time.

* Diving deep into our desires that are beyond the intellect.

* Philippe’s first meetings with Cristina and the fear that led to their first kiss.

* Changing our use of Social Media.

* Some very personal details of Philippe & Cristina’s torrid time in and after Bali.

* What does it mean to ‘go all in’?

* How do we recover and build from disappointment

* The liberation of self-discovery and honesty.

* The gift in being fired, even from a Podcast!

* Becoming aware of self-doubt in disappointment

* The importance of alignment over action.

* Our greatest heartaches, and greatest joys.

Here’s a little more about Philippe:

Philippe Bartu is a seasoned coach, trusted advisor and Leadership Development Consultant at The Collaborative Way. Since 2012, Philippe has run his own coaching practice, focusing on leadership development and creating healthy relationships within teams, families, and communities. In that time he has provided guidance to a diverse range of leaders and individuals of more than 20 nationalities, including entrepreneurs, CEOs, Olympic athletes, NGO founders, best-selling authors, and startup founders.He brings extensive expertise from the hospitality industry, including management roles at Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons Hotels along with owning and managing one of Lisbon’s fine-dining restaurants. As a graduate of the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL), his background in service excellence also led him to become a people-pleaser and burnout survivor. Philippe, a Swiss national, has lived and worked in over 10 countries. Fluent in five European languages, he lives with his wife and infant son in Antigua, Guatemala.

You can find out more about Philippe at www.philippebartu.com

Email Philippe – philippe -at- collaborativeway.com