The Coach's Journey - build a coaching business with integrity

As we wrap up The Coach’s Journey Podcast after seven years, we’re sharing some of our favourite episodes from the back catalogue…

Unleash Your Complexity Genius is the fourth published work by Jennifer Garvey Berger, the co-founder and CEO of Cultivating Leadership, and when she says that her books are getting shorter there is a sense that it's because she's honing in on the rich essence of her life's work.

In this episode of The Coach's Journey Podcast, Jennifer and I share a conversation that traverses adult developmental theory, complexity, vulnerability, and the transformative power of community and of "fierce friendship". We explore the junctures of growth that often appear as binary choices, and how the way forward tends to spring from a more balanced or holistic approach.

Jennifer pulls these strands together into something of a manifesto for the power of connection between coaches, leaders and people who together can hold uncertainty, and support each other to dream bigger and create a future filled with possibility – even as the world around us changes beyond recognition.

 In this episode, we talk about:

The necessary terror of change

Developmental theory

The trap we fall into when comparing ourselves to others

The simplicity on the far side of complexity

Polished and unpolished vulnerability, and how to create more love in organisations

Jennifer also shares personal reflections on growth, and the inspiring story of how she came to live and work with her friends in a shared house in France.

To learn more about Jennifer, visit https://www.cultivatingleadership.com/team-member/jennifer-garvey-berger or https://twitter.com/jgberger.

For information about Robbie’s wider work, my writing or to buy my books, visit www.robbieswale.com.

Read more about The Coach's Journey at www.thecoachsjourney.com.

Download the free ebook, An Introduction to The Coaching Business Flywheel, at https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/the-coaching-business-flywheel

Music by My Good Man William: listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4KmeQUcTbeE31uFynHQLQg

Things and people we mentioned (that you might be interested in):

- Myles Downey on The Coach’s Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-31-myles-downey

- Toku McCree on The Coach’s Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-15-toku-mccree-sales-with-honour-and-love-on-the-end-of-a-sword

- Lindsey Lewis on The Coach’s Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-47-lyndsey-lewis-turning-torment-into-talent

- Kim Morgan on The Coach’s Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-25-kim-morgan

- Unleash Your Complexity Genius by Carolyn Coughlin and Jennifer Garvey Berger https://www.cultivatingleadership.com/book/__trashed

- Jennifer's other books https://www.cultivatingleadership.com/books

- Joel Monk on the Coach's Journey Podcast https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-6-joel-monk-conversations-at-the-cutting-edge-of-coaching

- Art of Developmental Coaching with Coaches Rising https://www.coachesrising.com/artofdevelopmentalcoaching/

- The book that Robbie mentions, that is now finally out - The Power to Choose: https://www.robbieswale.com/the-power-to-choose

- Robbie's 12-minute series of books https://www.robbieswale.com/the-12minute-books

- Catherine Fitzgerald https://changeelemental.org/people/catherine-fitzgerald/

- Executive Coaching, by Catherine Fitzgerald https://www.amazon.co.uk/Executive-Coaching-Practices-Perspectives/dp/0891061614

- Robert Kegan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Kegan

- In Over Our Heads, by Robert Kegan https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674445888

- Dave Snowden and Cognitive Edge https://thecynefin.co/

- Jean Piaget https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Piaget

- Cathy Presland on The Coach's Journey Podcast https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-17-cathy-presland-government-advisor-to-three-principles-coach

- Brené Brown https://brenebrown.com/

- Amy Edmondson https://amycedmondson.com/

- The article about Jennifer's dream of moving to France: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/dreaming-good-company-jennifer-garvey-berger/

- Wendy Bittner http://www.cultivatingleadership.com/team-member/wendy-bittner

- Nicole Brigandi https://www.nicolebrigandicoaching.com/

- Download the free ebook, An Introduction to The Coaching Business Flywheel, at https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/the-coaching-business-flywheel

 ABOUT JENNIFER GARVEY BERGER

The co-founder and CEO of Cultivating Leadership, Jennifer blends deep theoretical knowledge with a driving quest for practical ways to make leaders’ lives better. She coaches executives and executive teams, and designs and teaches leadership programs.

Jennifer has written three highly acclaimed books on leadership and complexity and how to grow the capacities we need for the world in which we live. She hopes her newly-released fourth book, Unleash Your Complexity Genius, will change your life.

When she’s not working with clients and colleagues, you can find her in the French countryside, where she has bought a house with eleven friends who live in community and try to keep the dog from terrifying the cats.

As we wrap up The Coach’s Journey Podcast after seven years, we’re sharing some of our favourite episodes from the back catalogue…

Jamie Smart, Sunday Times best-selling author, speaker and coach, got to where he is today through a series of moments of profound realisation and insight. The first of which was a calling to public speaking even though he was terrified of it at the time.

In 2003, Jamie started the company Salad, and quickly grew a tribe of over 80,000 people who devoured his articles and personal development products. Salad soon became one of the world’s leading NLP product businesses but, despite its success, Jamie once again found himself looking for something more. In 2008, a series of significant insights brought him to a new paradigm, the principles of CLARITY®. He stopped teaching NLP, sold Salad, and never looked back.

Today, Jamie has five books to his name. He works with individuals and businesses helping them create the results that matter to them as well as running professional development workshops. He has appeared on Sky TV, the BBC, and in numerous publications including The Daily Telegraph.

In this episode, we talk about:

The two most valuable things that anyone can learn - the truth of how our experience is created and who we really are.

Why he recommends working with a package model over charging by the hour - how to avoid losing your business over night.

The breakthroughs in psychology that he believes are as significant as the discovery of germs were to medicine. 

The five questions to ask yourself and your client at the beginning of a new engagement.

Plus, we find out about childbed fever in the 1800s and what we can learn from four-year-olds.

For more information about Jamie, visit: www.jamiesmart.com

For information about Robbie’s wider work, my writing or to buy my books, visit www.robbieswale.com.

Read more about The Coach's Journey at www.thecoachsjourney.com.

Download the free ebook, An Introduction to The Coaching Business Flywheel, at https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/the-coaching-business-flywheel

Music by My Good Man William: listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4KmeQUcTbeE31uFynHQLQg

Things and people we mentioned (that you might be interested in):

~ Katie Harvey on The Coach’s Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-1-katie-harvey-14000-hours-of-coaching-being-part-of-the-uk-coaching-vanguard-and-being-a-generalist-coach

~ Marcia Reynolds on The Coach’s Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-14-marcia-reynolds-becoming-world-number-five-coachin-guru-rgdph-b5j29

~ Chris Joseph on The Coach’s Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/128-chris-joseph-how-to-become-an-overnight-success-in-10-years-from-ponzi-scheme-ruin-to-six-figure-coaching-months-repost

~ Episode #99 with Robbie: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/99-robbie-swale-the-secrets-of-meaningful-productivity-honourable-leadership-and-tilting-the-world-towards-heaven

~ Jackee Holder on The Coach’s Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/73-jackee-holder-trauma-informed-coaches-have-never-been-more-needed

~ Cathy Presland on The Coach’s Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-17-cathy-presland-government-advisor-to-three-principles-coach

~ Henrietta Nelson on The Coach’s Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-46-henrietta-nelson-nobody-else-can-put-a-feeling-in-you

~11: Regent’s University: https://www.regents.ac.uk/

~23: Jamie Smart’s books: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jamie-Smart/e/B00N7HMHL8?ref_=dbs_p_pbk_r00_abau_000000

~23: Jamie’s fifth book, The Profitable Coaches Scorecard: https://www.amazon.com/Profitable-Coaches-Scorecard-Jamie-Smart/dp/0995613419#:~:text=In%20Jamie%20Smart's%20book%2C%20The,life%20and%20in%20the%20world.

~24: The CLARITY® certification training module: https://www.jamiesmart.com/clarity-coach-training/

~36: Salad NLP: http://saladltd.co.uk/

~37: Tim Ferriss’s book The 4-hour Work Week: https://www.amazon.co.uk/4-Hour-Work-Week-Escape-Anywhere/dp/0091929113

~38: Michael Neill: https://www.michaelneill.org/

~40: Missing Link by Sydney Banks: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Missing-Link-Reflections-Philosophy-Spirit/dp/1772130176#:~:text=The%20Missing%20Link%20is%20the,read%20it%20to%20enjoy%20it.

~44: George Carlin: https://georgecarlin.com/

~46: Sydney Banks: http://sydbanks.com/

~ 47: The Clarity Life Community Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/claritylifecommunity/

~51: Christina Mitchell: https://www.christinamitchell.co.uk/

~1.10: The Chimp Paradox by Dr Steve Peters: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chimp-Paradox-Management-Programme-Confidence/dp/009193558X

~1.17: ClarityPro: https://www.clarityacademy.co/ClarityProClosed 

~1.45: Ignaz Semmelweis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ignaz_Semmelweis

~1.45: Germ Theory: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germ_theory_of_disease

~1.45: Gregory Bateson: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregory_Bateson

~1.47: Hermann von Helmholtz: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermann_von_Helmholtz

~1.48: Anil Seth’s Ted Talk: Your Brain Hallucinates Your Conscious Reality: https://www.ted.com/talks/anil_seth_your_brain_hallucinates_your_conscious_reality?language=en#t-991

~2.06: Jamie’s book, Results: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Results-Think-Less-Achieve-More/dp/0857087096

~2.06: Jamie’s book, The Little Book of Results: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Book-Results-Quick-Achieving/dp/0857087800

~2.07: The Thriving Coaches Blueprint: https://www.clarityacademy.co/tcbclosed

~2.07: The Career Transition Blueprint: https://www.clarityacademy.co/ctbclosed

~2.10: The Clarity Life Community Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/claritylifecommunity/

~2.10: The Thriving Coaches Podcast: https://www.jamiesmart.com/tcp/

~2.10: Get CLARITY® with Jamie Smart Podcast: https://www.jamiesmart.com/claritynow/

~2.10: The CLARITY® Certification Training: https://www.jamiesmart.com/clarity-coach-training/ 

~ Download the free ebook, An Introduction to The Coaching Business Flywheel, at https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/the-coaching-business-flywheel

FULL BIOGRAPHY FROM JAMIE

Jamie Smart is an internationally renowned writer, speaker, coach and consultant. He shows individuals and organizations the unexpected keys to clarity; the ultimate leverage point for creating more time, better decisions and meaningful results.

Jamie is a gifted speaker, equally engaging in front of large audiences and more intimate groups. He’s passionate about helping individuals and businesses to deepen their understanding of CLARITY® and to create the results that matter to them. In addition to working with a handful of coaching clients and leading selected corporate programmes, Jamie runs professional development workshops for business leaders, trainers, coaches and consultants. He has appeared on Sky TV and on the BBC, as well as in numerous publications including The Daily Telegraph.

In 2003, Jamie started the company Salad, quickly growing a tribe of over 80,000 people who devoured his articles and personal development products. Salad soon became the world’s leading NLP product business, and he was acknowledged by his peers as one of the world’s finest trainers. Then, in 2008, Jamie shifted his focus to a new paradigm, the principles of CLARITY®. He stopped teaching NLP and in 2012, sold Salad. Prior to starting his own business, Jamie led multi-million pound organizational change programmes and was also brought in as a troubleshooter to rescue struggling projects. His client list includes the Guardian newspaper, Sweet & Maxwell, Payzone and Dun & Bradstreet.

Jamie lives in London. When he’s not working, he loves travelling, walking, drinking coffee and exploring. 

As we wrap up The Coach’s Journey Podcast after seven years, we’re sharing some of our favourite episodes from the back catalogue…

Claire Pedrick was speaking at the ICF Conference in 2019 when a publisher approached her and said: “Have you got a book in you?”

That book is Simplifying Coaching, and in it Claire offers a rallying cry for filtering out the noise of the coaching industry and honing in on the very human essence of transformative conversations.

In this episode of The Coach’s Journey Podcast, Claire traces the steps that led her into a burgeoning coaching landscape around the turn of the century and reflects on the precious lessons learned from moments that sometimes felt like missteps.

She shines a light on the “guru-ing” and “pedestal-ing” that can lead to problematic power dynamics in coaching, and shares the foundational values such as equity and fairness that underpin the success of 3D Coaching and saw her recognised with the 2022 Outstanding Contribution to Coaching Award from Henley Business School.

Claire is a master of the art of communicating complicated things simply, but admits it took a long time to have the confidence to cut through complexity and offer straightforward truths when coaching or mentoring coaches.

Listening to her speak, you cannot fail to appreciate the fundamental importance of her approach, which is explained with refreshing clarity.

 In this episode, we talk about:

Whether we have to be the things we want to develop in people

The impact of modelling the boundaries we set

The holy ground in the coaching space and how to interact with it

Being wise about how many coffees to have with someone and still call it work

Learning how to be silent and how to wait while coaching clients are doing good work

Claire also talks about how to value your time, how to balance delivery and business development, and the importance of – as coaches – telling the truth about ourselves.

To learn more about Claire, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairepedrick/

For information about Robbie’s wider work, my writing or to buy my books, visit www.robbieswale.com.

Read more about The Coach's Journey at www.thecoachsjourney.com.

Download the free ebook, An Introduction to The Coaching Business Flywheel, at https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/the-coaching-business-flywheel

Music by My Good Man William: listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4KmeQUcTbeE31uFynHQLQg

Things and people we mentioned (that you might be interested in):

- Episode #123 - bringing the show to an end: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/123-why-im-closing-the-coachs-journey-podcast

- Phil Bolton: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-2-phil-bolton-from-forensic-accountant-to-the-go-to-career-coach-in-london-and-on-to-work-with-ceos-mds-and-founders

- James Bianco: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-5-james-bianco-beware-your-simple-stories-about-coaching-success

- Chris Joseph: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/128-chris-joseph-how-to-become-an-overnight-success-in-10-years-from-ponzi-scheme-ruin-to-six-figure-coaching-months-repost

- Kim Morgan: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-25-kim-morgan

- Introducing the host team: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-56-introducing-the-new-hosts-ushering-in-the-future-of-the-coachs-journey‍ ‍

- Robbie’s upcoming event, How to Be More Productive (and why time management won’t help you): https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/how-to-be-more-productive-and-why-time-management-wont-help-you-tickets-470005598397‍ ‍

- Claire’s podcast, The Coaching Inn https://thecoachinginn.podbean.com/

- Sarah Cartwright https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-cartwright-28659815/

-  Claire’s book, Simplifying Coaching https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/56199938-simplifying-coaching

- Alex Swallow http://alexswallow.com/about/

- Robbie’s 100 podcast challenge https://www.robbieswale.com/writing/2022/2/4/the-12-minute-method-100-podcasts-challenge

- Transforming Conversations https://www.3dcoaching.com/transforming-conversations/

- Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3228917-outliers

- Ed Watson https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-watson-training

- Good Housekeeping https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/

- Thomas Leonard https://coachville.com/connect/founder-thomas-leonard/

- Coach U https://www.coachu.com/home/

- 3D Coaching https://www.3dcoaching.com/

- Moneypenny https://www.moneypenny.com/uk/

- Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, by Oliver Burkeman https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/54785515-four-thousand-weeks

- Phil Bolton and Inga Umblija on The Coach’s Journey podcast https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-28-inga-umblija-phil-bolton-abundance-formula

- Barry Ennis on The Coach’s Journey podcast https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-9-barry-ennis-follow-the-fire

- Reid Hoffman https://www.reidhoffman.org/

- Robbie appearing on The Coaching Inn https://thecoachinginn.podbean.com/e/in-conversation-with-robbie-swale-how-to-start-when-you-re-stuck/

- Vegard Olsen coachingpartner.net

- Tony Robbins https://www.tonyrobbins.com/

- ILM https://www.i-l-m.com/

- John Blakey https://johnblakey.co.uk/

- Claire on the Coach’s Journey Podcast with Lucia Baldelli, talking The Human Behind The Coach: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-55-claire-pedrick-and-lucia-baldelli-the-human-behind-the-coach

- Claire and Robbie on The Coach’s Journey Podcast talking about The Artful Coach and the Soulful Coaching Business: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/92-the-artful-coach-and-the-soulful-coaching-business-a-joint-episode-with-clare-pedrick-and-robbie-swale

- Download the free ebook, An Introduction to The Coaching Business Flywheel, at https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/the-coaching-business-flywheel

 ABOUT CLAIRE PEDRICK

Claire Pedrick is, in her own words, a human who facilitates other people’s thinking. She is a business owner. A mother. A friend. A volunteer. An MCC Master Coach with over 13,000 hours of experience. And she is the author of Simplifying Coaching and host at The Coaching Inn podcast.

About these descriptions, Claire says: “All of these are true and each will impact how we start a conversation. With some definitions you might assign me power which I do not deserve.”

Claire established 3D Coaching in the 1990s to bring together the simplest and best learning from coaching, to support people in organisations to have more effective conversations with an edge. Coaching for more than 35 years, she believes that the essence of coaching is simple and that it takes time to learn to work that simply.

Claire’s current focus is on developing internal and external coaches through training, masterclasses and mentoring. Every so often she goes for a very long walk – in 2022 it was 600km on the Camino in Spain.

As we begin to wrap up The Coach’s Journey Podcast after seven years, we’re sharing some of our favourite episodes from the back catalogue…

Ruth Rochelle’s life and career changed when, in 1979, she met Ariana Huffington and took part in the first Insight Seminar ever to happen in the United Kingdom.

Ruth describes this moment as her invitation into self-reflection, the start of her career, and the time when she started to become the leader in her own life. In Café Royal on London’s Regent Street, with 100 people – including some famous names – she had an experience she calls mindblowing and heart-opening, revealing deep truths that had previously been hidden from view.

In this episode of the Coach’s Journey Podcast, Ruth sheds light on the vast worlds of discovery that opened up to her following that first Insight Seminar, which propelled her into a career as a global facilitator and as a renowned expert on conscious leadership in teams and organisations.

Ruth tells host Joey Owen how her remarkable appetite for learning and exploration also led her to study Internal Family Systems, which now underpins her work as an accredited master executive coach, IFS practitioner, systemic team coach and coaching constellations practitioner.

In this episode, Ruth and Joey also talk about:

Psychosynthesis and other therapeutic models that are harnessed by coaches

How to shift from protective behaviours in order to stand up in your authenticity

The ripple effect and how it can amplify both our limiting patterns and our effective ones

The way systems theory can help us stay in balance and adapt to our current truth

Ruth ends the podcast with a truly vital message about the parts of ourselves that we bring to interactions with others and the roles we all have to play in taking humanity forward.

For more information about Ruth, visit https://www.ruthrochelle.com/

For more information about host Joey Owen, visit http://www.joeyowencoaching.com/

Read more about The Coach's Journey at www.thecoachsjourney.com.

Download the free ebook, An Introduction to The Coaching Business Flywheel, at https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/the-coaching-business-flywheel

Music by My Good Man William: listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4KmeQUcTbeE31uFynHQLQg

THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT THAT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN:

- Robbie’s model, The Coaching Business Flywheel: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/the-coaching-business-flywheel

Ruth’s other appearance on The Coach’s Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/111-ruth-rochelle-the-future-of-coaching-trust-simplicity-and-the-wisdom-of-humanity

Chris Joseph on The Coach’s Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/128-chris-joseph-how-to-become-an-overnight-success-in-10-years-from-ponzi-scheme-ruin-to-six-figure-coaching-months-repost

Ellie Scarf on The Coach’s Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/102-ellie-scarf-our-stories-and-scars-can-be-points-of-connection

Clare Norman on The Coach’s Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-68-clare-norman-glimmers-of-hope-structuring-a-coaching-business-and-unlearning-mindsets-on-the-journey-to-coaching-mastery

Julie Starr on The Coach’s Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-58-julie-starr-the-world-works-from-the-inside-out

Matt Thieleman on The Coach’s Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-51-mindful-leadership-and-letting-your-hidden-side-be-seen

- Ariana Huffington https://www.instagram.com/ariannahuff/?hl=en

- Insight Seminars https://insightseminars.org/

- John Roger https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-08-14-vw-882-story.html

- Russell Bishop https://russellbishop.com/about

- Internal Family Systems https://ifs-institute.com/

- Psychosynthesis Coaching, Auburn Howard https://www.psychosynthesiscoaching.co.uk/

- NLP https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuro-linguistic_programming

- Results Unlimited https://www.upwork.com/agencies/1140793201640026112/

- Internal Family Systems Therapy by Richard Schwartz https://www.amazon.co.uk/Internal-Family-Systems-Therapy-Guilford/dp/1572302720

- The Leadership Circle https://leadershipcircle.com/leadership-assessment-tools/leadership-circle-profile/

- Robert Kegan and the Immunity to Change model https://www.gse.harvard.edu/hgse100/story/changing-better#:~:text=Based%20on%2030%20years%20of,distortions%20that%20keep%20you%20from‍ ‍

- AOAC master systems coach https://www.aoac.org/aoac-training-courses/

- Third Space https://www.thirdspace.london/

- Download the free ebook, An Introduction to The Coaching Business Flywheel, at https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/the-coaching-business-flywheel

BIOGRAPHY FROM RUTH

For more than 25 years Ruth has been a coach – an executive and team coach, workshop facilitator, transformational coach and coach supervisor – with private clients and with organisations.

Ruth is an Accredited Master Executive Coach with APECS, an IFS (Internal Family Systems) Practitioner with the IFS Institute and a Coaching Constellations Practitioner, and her clients have included creative professionals, start-up founders, senior managers, young emerging leaders, celebrities, coaches, and many more.

Ruth supports her clients to create and achieve their visions, enrich their relationships, navigate changing circumstances, embark on new life directions, start and grow businesses, address specific challenges, experience greater wellbeing and connect to a meaningful purpose.

As we begin to wrap up The Coach’s Journey Podcast after seven years, we’re sharing some of our favourite episodes from the back catalogue…

Sat atop a Welsh mountain in 2007 in a moment of depression and despair, Chris Joseph had the first in a series of instances of clarity that would eventually lead him to coaching. On the brink of a meltdown, he knew his Ph.D. in Computational Mechanics was no longer serving him.

Buddhism, yoga and mediation became the elixir for him and soon he found he couldn't sleep with excitement at the discoveries he was making. His life changed when he trained to become a mindfulness teacher with Breathworks, and Chris went on to complete his Ph.D. and launch his first coaching practice. But it wasn't a success and in the end he gave it up.

His extraordinary journey includes a multitude of highs and lows, from making £10,000 a month in passive income to losing it all to a fraudulent trader. Now he’s back coaching and headed for a seven-figure year with his highly successful practice.

In this episode, we talk about:

Where his practice went wrong the first time round.

Why the inner work is so important - understanding that you can only take people as far as you can go yourself.

Why a true insight always comes packaged with an action - an ‘outsight’ or an ‘outer action’.

How to invite an individual to coaching - how to make it feel like a gift to the individual and not a request for yourself.

Alongside the practical we get into some big topics: death, impermanence, the importance of play and the effects of all these on our lives. And it is a total pleasure to be in a space with Chris' beautiful open-heartedness.

For more information about Chris, visit www.christopherjoseph.co.uk, find him on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/drchrisjoseph/ or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/chrisjoseph.uk/

For information about Robbie’s wider work and writing, visit www.robbieswale.com.

Read more about The Coach's Journey and sign up to our mailing list at www.thecoachsjourney.com.

Download the free ebook, An Introduction to The Coaching Business Flywheel, at https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/the-coaching-business-flywheel

Music by My Good Man William listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4KmeQUcTbeE31uFynHQLQg

Things and people we mentioned (that you might be interested in):

~ Alex Swallow on The Coach’s Journey Podcast: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-62-alex-swallow-life-is-better-when-we-choose

~8: Rich Waterman: https://www.richwaterman.com/ 

~10: The Happiness Hypothesis by Jonathan Haidt: https://www.happinesshypothesis.com/

~12: Michael Neill: https://www.michaelneill.org/

~12: Dick Bettinger: http://3principlesmentoring.com/index.html 

~12: Sydney Banks: https://sydbanks.com/

~14: Breathworks: https://www.breathworks-mindfulness.org.uk/

~20: Unleash the Power Within with Tony Robbins: https://www.tonyrobbins.com/events/unleash-the-power-within/ 

~25: Unleash the Power Within with Tony Robbins: https://www.tonyrobbins.com/events/unleash-the-power-within/

~26: The Coaching Academy: https://www.the-coaching-academy.com

~26: Richard Bandler: https://richardbandler.com

~26: John LaValle: https://www.nlplifetraining.com/trainers/john-lavalle

~26: The Prosperous Coach by Steve Chandler and Rich Litvin: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Prosperous-Coach-Increase-Income-Clients/dp/1600250300 

~26: Breathworks: https://www.breathworks-mindfulness.org.uk/

~27: Simon Coulson: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Prosperous-Coach-Increase-Income-Clients/dp/1600250300

~27: Peter Thompson: https://peterthomson.com/ 

~27: Michael Neill: https://www.michaelneill.org/ 

~27: Project Kairos with Rich Litvin: https://richlitvin.com/kairos/

~30: Steve Hardison video: https://youtu.be/0Tine-9dz-Y

~32: Rich Waterman: https://www.richwaterman.com/ 

~33: Three Principles: https://threeprinciplesfoundation.org/ 

~33: Eckhart Tolle: https://eckharttolle.com/ 

~33: Bryon Katie: https://thework.com/ 

~33: The Coaching Academy: https://www.the-coaching-academy.com

~33: Tony Robbins: https://www.tonyrobbins.com/ 

~37: Crazy Good by Steve Chandler: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1600250343/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_JMAKFbP0PYJ7E 

~43: The War of Art by Steven Pressfield and Shawn Coyne: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1936891026/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_xlBKFbG7XW11B

~50: Loom: https://www.loom.com

~1.11: Cardiff University: https://www.cardiff.ac.uk 

~1.29: Wealth Warrior by Steve Chandler: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1600250408/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_EFCKFbY9VGH7M

~1.29: Time Warrior by Steve Chandler: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1600250378/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_kICKFbB90WCJN

~1.29: The Hero’s Journey by Joseph Campbell: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1608681890/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_8RCKFbEEPT36Y

~1.31: The Meaning Revolution by Fred Kofman : https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1524760730/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_BsSKFbKHQ773N

~1.45: Chris’s contact details: email address: [email protected], LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drchrisjoseph/, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chrisjoseph.uk/

~1.50: Steve Hardison: https://theultimatecoach.com/ 

FULL BIOGRAPHY FROM CHRIS

Dr. Chris Joseph is a sought-after coach and mindfulness trainer living in South Wales. He specialises in working with high-achieving coaches who are ready to play at the next level. His expertise is in helping people slow down, reconnect with themselves and then create the life that they truly want to wake up to every morning.

In his coaching role, Chris works with a small number of clients each year, by invitation or referral. His clients have included the former marketing director of one of the most iconic brands on earth, a senior VP for a fortune 10 company, a woman who has worked in mission control, a former private investigator on Wall Street, a Wall Street attorney, an ex-personal advisor to the former Prime Minister of the UK, a London investment banker and business owners with multi-million dollar turnovers.

As a mindfulness trainer, he creates original and impactful sessions on emotional resilience and mindful leadership for world-class companies. He has worked with Tesco, Tata Steel, Cardiff University, the NHS, Breast Cancer Care, Jacobs and MotoNovo Finance. 

Chris has a Doctorate from Cardiff University and is a qualified Breathworks Mindfulness Trainer and a Richard Bandler certified NLP practitioner.

In his former career, he was a Civil Engineer, working in the contracting, consulting and research sectors. His work has been published in international journals.

Chris has been featured on National Radio in Wales for his mindfulness work, has written over 20 articles on Mindfulness and is in the process of writing his first book on coaching.

When he isn’t coaching, training or writing, he is continually learning about play, creativity, fun and laughter from his children, Aled and Anwen. He also enjoys triathlon and has completed an Ironman, a 10km charity swim and a 70km ultra run!

As we begin to wrap up The Coach’s Journey Podcast after seven years, we’re sharing some of our favourite episodes from the back catalogue…

Coaching found Julie Starr without her looking for it, and she started to practice coaching before she knew what it was.

As a project manager of large-scale change initiatives in big organisations, Julie was someone who people naturally turned to with problems ­– often complex, personal matters that required care and attention to their inner world.

Julie acquired skills to enhance her ability to perform this role; tools like neuro-linguistic programming helped her to navigate one-to-one work, and also prepared her for the future that awaited her.

At a time when coaching qualifications had yet to be developed, Julie began writing a book that would help people understand the one-to-one work she was doing. That book is The Coaching Manual and it is now in its fifth edition, having garnered critical acclaim from the likes of Sir John Whitmore, widely regarded as one of the founding figures of the coaching industry.

Julie, now an executive coach, mentor, writer and speaker, has since written two more best-selling books on coaching as well as two works of fiction, all of which are inspired by her belief in the interdependency of people, and by her passionate enquiry into the nature of reality. A self-described seeker, Julie’s journey of exploration through personal and professional development charts a fascinating course through the last three decades and is full of interesting insights and suggestions for coaches on their own journey.

In this episode, we also talk about:
Not allowing models and frameworks to become limiting factors in our work as coaches

The power of non-attachment and the importance of working joyfully

Staying true to ourselves, and resisting the temptation to climb a ladder that is against somebody else’s wall

How to charge what you would be delighted with but not amazed by

How to pursue the pathways that make sense to you in a turbulent, disorienting world

We also discuss the biggest challenge we face as coaches: the inner and outer work we have to do to get ourselves out of the way in conversations.

For more information about Julie, visit www.starrcoaching.co.uk or www.learnstarr.com.

For more information about this episode’s host, Neil Mackinnon, visit https://neilmackinnon.net/.

Read more about The Coach's Journey and sign up to our mailing list at www.thecoachsjourney.com.

Download the free ebook, An Introduction toThe Coaching Business Flywheel,at https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/the-coaching-business-flywheel

Music by My Good Man William: listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4KmeQUcTbeE31uFynHQLQg

Things and people we mentioned (that you might be interested in):

-  Neuro-linguistic programming https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuro-linguistic_programming

- Tony Robbins https://www.tonyrobbins.com/

- Richard Bandler and John Grinder https://www.pocketbook.co.uk/blog/2017/08/01/john-grinder-and-richard-bandler-nlp-neuro-linguistic-programming/

- Milton Erickson https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milton_H._Erickson

- Effective Coaching by Myles Downey https://pocketwisdom.blog/2022/08/10/effective-coaching-by-myles-downey/

- Coaching for Performance by Sir John Whitmore https://www.performanceconsultants.com/coaching-for-performance-book

- Co-active Coaching https://coactive.com/about/what-is-coactive

- The GROW model https://www.performanceconsultants.com/grow-model

- Tim Gallwey https://www.performanceconsultants.com/tim-gallwey

- Writing coach Marcia Yudkin https://www.yudkin.com/index.htm

- Eloise Cook https://reedsy.com/eloise-cook

- Kim Morgan on The Coach’s Journey Podcast https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-25-kim-morgan

- The Institute of Self-Actualisation https://isaexperience.wordpress.com/

- Landmark Forum https://www.landmarkworldwide.com/the-landmark-forum

- The Journey https://home.thejourney.com/

- Joe Dispenza https://drjoedispenza.com/

- Julie’s first non-fiction book, From Magic to Memphis https://starrcoaching.co.uk/introducing-julies-debut-novel-magic-to-memphis/

- Truth Keeper, book one, by Julie Starr https://www.linkedin.com/posts/juliestarrcoach_truth-keeper-book-one-julie-starr-activity-7076863795129655296-cjpg/

BIOGRAPHY FROM JULIE

Julie Starr is an executive coach, mentor, writer, and speaker. She is the author of three best-selling books on coaching: The Coaching Manual, The Mentoring Manual and Brilliant Coaching. Julie works with individuals and organisations to help them clarify a sense of purpose and remove obstacles to progress. Her own sense of purpose builds from an ongoing enquiry into how we might reach our fullest potential.

For Dr. Erek Ostrowski, the quality of our reflection is the quality of our coaching. In this episode of The Coach’s Journey Podcast, he describes how intentional, multifaceted reflection produces new understanding and enables us to take action in ways we could not previously envisage.

As well as holding a PhD in Organisational Development and Change, and being a senior leadership and executive coach who founded Verve Coaching, Erek is the author of The Capable Group Coach, which “invites coaches and organisations to embrace the complexity, relational depth, and unique human potential that only group coaching can unlock”.

Erek’s passion for group coaching, which he believes can help us to address a crisis of meaning that is emerging in the workplace, has fuelled his rise to the very top of his field, and in discussion with host Alex Whitton he explains why there is an increasing demand for group coaching from forward-thinking organisations.

The vital importance of experimentation in coaching is a focus of this conversation, and Erek and Alex discuss how coaches can ensure their work is grounded in a solid evidence base while freeing themselves up to be guided by the knowledge that emerges through play and by trying out new things. Erek also speaks sagely about the indispensible value of curiosity in a multifaceted career, and about the tremendous cost we risk if we fail to attend to our gut instincts.

This episode is packed full of wisdom and insight from a true innovator and thought leader, who shares his expertise on how to increase the value of your work by developing a practice that produces impact, meaning and possibility far beyond what takes place in the coaching room.

Erek and Alex also talk about:

• How often practice leads research and the power of learning through doing

• The nuanced approaches required when working in different group coaching contexts

• How shiatsu and embodied work inform Erek’s practice

• The different possibilities that open up when working with a capabilities-based model rather than a competencies-based model

• How to attune yourself to emergent demand, and create something that people really want!

• The benefits of getting involved in scholarship to your positioning in the field of coaching

• The crucial differences between group coaching and team coaching

THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT:

- Systems theory https://thedecisionlab.com/reference-guide/psychology/systems-theory

- Organisational theory https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/computer-science/organisational-theory

- The GROW model https://www.coachingcultureatwork.com/the-grow-model/

- David Kolb, learning cycle - https://www.britishschoolofcoaching.com/kolbs-learning-cycle-in-coaching/

- John Dewey, Learning by doing - https://www.simplypsychology.org/john-dewey.html

- William Bridges, Transition theory - https://wmbridges.com/about/what-is-transition/

- Malcolm Knowles, adult learning theory - https://infed.org/dir/welcome/malcolm-knowles-informal-adult-education-self-direction-and-andragogy/

- The Capable Group Coach, by Erek Ostrowski https://www.routledge.com/The-Capable-Group-Coach-Bridging-Knowledge-and-Practice-for-Transformative-Learning-and-Change-in-Groups/Ostrowski/p/book/9781041158516

- Tony Grant, https://instituteofcoaching.org/author/grant-anthony

- Irvin Yalom, The Theory and Practices of Group Psychotherapy https://www.yalom.com/

- David Drake, https://www.davidbdrake.com/

- Ken Giglio, Mindful Leadership https://mindful-leaders.com/

- Jevons Paradox, https://www.npr.org/sections/planet-money/2025/02/04/g-s1-46018/ai-deepseek-economics-jevons-paradox

BIOGRAPHY FROM EREK

Dr. Erek J. Ostrowski, PhD, PCC, is a senior leadership and executive coach, coaching author and researcher, and founder of Verve Coaching. With over 25 years of experience, he designs and facilitates systemic coaching interventions for senior leaders and organizations navigating rapid change, growth, and scale. His collaborative approach engages leaders in reflection and inquiry that drives business outcomes while fostering a culture of learning and positive change.

Erek’s practice spans healthcare and academic medicine, financial services, entrepreneurial firms, higher education, and creative services. He partners with physician leaders, executives, faculty, founders, and leadership teams, and is widely recognized for his pioneering research on group coaching.

At the University of Pennsylvania, Erek is an affiliated faculty member in the Organizational Dynamics programs, where he chairs the Leadership and Organizational Coaching (LOC) master’s concentration. He co-edited Innovations in Leadership Coaching: Research and Practice and is the author of the newly released The Capable Group Coach (Routledge, 2026).

Erek holds a PhD in Organizational Development and Change and an MA in Human and Organizational Systems, both from Fielding Graduate University. He is a credentialed coach with the International Coaching Federation (PCC) and a certified coach supervisor through Oxford Brookes University.

When five-time published author Helen ONeill entered the coaching space, she found that many coaches had misconceptions about writing and publishing. Some felt they needed permission to write their book, while others were held back by gatekeeping, snobbery and exploitative business practices.

Her response was to set up Coach Write, the book coaching business she runs to help coaches make the choices that are right for them as they navigate their publishing journey, drawing on her expertise as an EMCC-accredited coach and a published author in a range of genres.

The Coach Write stream of Helen’s business forms part of her portfolio career, and in this episode of The Coach’s Journey Podcast, she tells host Alex Swallow about how she spent 20 years gaining experience in recruitment, human resources and psychometrics before becoming a portfolio career and change management specialist.

Helen helps people who want a life and a career comprised of several threads to weave them together in a way that is sustainable and nourishing, ensuring the common pitfall of burnout is avoided altogether. She speaks about the boundaries and strategies that underpin this process, and describes the many synergies between the secrets of building a thriving author business and becoming a successful coach.

Helen is passionate about creating a space for coaches to write and publish, where they can build a truly fulfilling life of variety, challenge and achievement. In this episode she cuts through the nonsense with practical, inspirational advice for anyone seeking to make a well-chosen next step in their career.

Helen and Alex also talk about:

• How to structure a portfolio career to ensure your time, energy, and income are in balance


• Setting up a no-stress side hustle that puts a bit of joy into the world

• The “messy middle” of mid-to-senior level work and the many different paths that it can lead to

• ‘AI vertigo’ and how to get on the front foot rather than living in fear of AI

• How to build your online presence without draining your soul by focusing on what you love doing


THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT THAT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN:

- Coach Write https://coachwrite.co.uk/

- Gather and Grow https://www.gatherandgrow.community/

- EMCC https://emccglobal.org/

- Time to Think by Nancy Kline https://www.timetothink.com/books/time-to-think/

- Barefoot Coaching https://barefootcoaching.co.uk/

- The Sheffield Coaching Exchange https://www.linkedin.com/company/sheffield-coaching-exchange/

- Robbie Swale’s Coaching Business Flywheel https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/the-coaching-business-flywheel

BIOGRAPHY FROM HELEN

Helen ONeill spent 20 years leading complex change portfolios before embarking on her own successful portfolio career. Today she’s an EMCC accredited coach, five-time published author, and the founder of Coach Write, where she helps coaches write and publish books that position them as thought leaders.

She rarely watches television, she’s rubbish at updating social media, and she tries to avoid the news as much as possible. Instead, she packs her life with experiences, achievements, and laughter, and she loves helping others do the same.

When we truly trust a client with our thinking, we can make space for them to use it in their own way. This trust is at the heart of Nishe Patel’s coaching practice, and in this episode of The Coach’s Journey Podcast she explains how occupying a space of not-knowing can pave the way to deep and genuine connections between coaches and their clients.

In conversation with Alex Whitton, Nishe brings her expertise to bear on vital questions about the very nature of the curiosity that we prize so highly in coaching and how we can harness curiosity in the spirit of play, creativity and an interest in the person rather than the problem.

Nishe experienced a magical moment when she first encountered coaching, and she speaks about the one question that brought her to tears when it was first asked to her within a thoughtfully held coaching framework. This magic gave her the confidence to quit her job in order to embark on several years of training that transformed her career and her life.

Nishe’s training includes neuro-linguistic programming, hypnosis, and emotion-focused therapy, and she discusses the benefits of being able to integrate working with the unconscious as well as the conscious mind in her practice. Nishe also explains how taking a step back from her coaching career in order to recover from an operation produced insights into the expectations she placed on herself and her clients that would reshape her approach to her work.

The rise of AI coaching and mentoring are discussed, along with the principles that underpin various modalities of practice with an ever-increasing reach and appeal.

After over a decade in practice, Nishe remains hugely excited by the learning and development that coaching still has to offer her. This episode captures the unfolding nature of a coaching practice, as Nishe shares how she is still discovering new layers of meaning in her work.

Nishe and Alex also talk about:

How to create the conditions for a deep connection with coaching clients that goes beyond cognitive understanding

Striking a balance between reassurance and challenge

How to ensure your business enables you to live the lifestyle you want to lead

The times when coaches need to disappear for their clients to own their growth

How to let go of the need to know why, in order to be with what is

THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT THAT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN:

- Master Certified Coach training from the ICF https://coachingfederation.org/credentialing/icf-credentials-overview/mcc/

- NLP coach training https://nlpuktraining.com/

- Cyclothymia https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/cyclothymia/

- ADHD https://adhduk.co.uk/

- ACTP https://myactp.com/coach-certification/

- Animas https://www.animascoaching.com/

- EFT (Emotion-focused therapy) https://www.priorygroup.com/our-services/types-of-therapy/emotion-focused-therapy-eft

- Eric Berne and Transactional Analysis https://ericberne.com/transactional-analysis/

- Sir John Whitmore https://www.performanceconsultants.com/about-us/sir-john-whitmore/

- Eriksonian hypnotherapy https://www.hypnotherapy-directory.org.uk/approach/ericksonian.html 

- Anise Frost https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/118-anise-frost-how-to-craft-presence-and-ask-magic-questions

- Sam Isaacson https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/112-sam-isaacson-the-challenges-facing-coaching-in-the-age-of-ai

- Shruti Sonthalia https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/108-shruti-sonthalia-awareness-combined-with-action-is-the-key-to-creating-change

BIOGRAPHY FROM NISHE

Nishe is a coach, facilitator, mentor, and supervisor with a genuine passion for helping people think differently and be themselves in whatever way they choose. Her approach is ever-evolving as she thoughtfully integrates a variety of techniques, theories, and personal experiences into her practice. Nishe predominately works through associate roles, coaching senior leaders and small business owners as they navigate the complexities of work.

After almost 7 years, I’ve decided to close The Coach’s Journey Podcast this autumn.

As I have done throughout The Coach’s Journey, I want to share my thinking about my business with you, in service of supporting you to think about yours in new ways.

And so in this episode, I share my thinking on closing down this podcast, what will happen between now and the final episode in October, and what I’ve learned from the process of deciding to close the show.

I also share big news about The Coach’s Journey Community, and how my work with coaches is evolving in an exciting new group programme for coaches launching this year.

In particular, I talk about:

How I use my energy as a compass in my business.

What can happen if we’re brave enough to say ‘No’ to things most people aren’t brave enough to say ‘No’ to.

The crucial distinction between the work and the container.

How I’m going to take what was magical about The Coach’s Journey Community and build it into a new programme, which creates even more tension and possibility for transformation.

It's exciting times... and it's bittersweet. 

But I'm so proud of what we've made here at The Coach's Journey, and I know you've valued it too.

I'm looking forward to sharing some fantastic new content - and shining a spotlight on some amazing old content - over the final few months of the show, before we close in October. 

And if you’re curious to find out more about my new group programme, which I outlined in this episode, you can read more and apply here: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/group-coaching-programme

If you like this episode, you’ll love Robbie’s ebook, An Introduction toThe Coaching Business Flywheel,visit https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/the-coaching-business-flywheel

For more information about Robbie, visit https://www.robbieswale.com/

Read more about The Coach's Journey at www.thecoachsjourney.com.

Music by My Good Man William: listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4KmeQUcTbeE31uFynHQLQg

THINGS I TALKED ABOUT THAT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN:

My new group programme for coaches - read more and apply here: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/group-coaching-programme

The Coach’s Journey Mailing list: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/subscribe

Episode #56: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-56-introducing-the-new-hosts-ushering-in-the-future-of-the-coachs-journey

My ebook, An Introduction to the Coaching Business Flywheel: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/the-coaching-business-flywheel

A podcast deep dive series on the flywheel and all its parts: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/writing/dive-deep-into-the-foundations-of-a-sustainable-coaching-business-via-the-coaching-business-flywheel

Neil’s interview with Julie Starr: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/episode-58-julie-starr-the-world-works-from-the-inside-out

12-Minute Method Books: https://geni.us/12minutemethodseries

The Power to Choose: https://geni.us/powertochoose

Robbie’s mailing list: https://www.robbieswale.com/mailing-list

Joey interviewing Robbie, particularly about Meaningful Productivity: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/99-robbie-swale-the-secrets-of-meaningful-productivity-honourable-leadership-and-tilting-the-world-towards-heaven

Robbie’s Meaningful Productivity Blueprint: https://www.robbieswale.com/meaningful-productivity

The podcast episode about creating The Coach’s Journey Community: https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast/robbie-on-new-work-group-coaching-tcj-communty

If you’ve consumed ALL the content at http://www.thecoachsjourney.com and still want more, email me here: [email protected].