Ever launched a coaching program or product that flopped?

You're not alone.

In this episode, Tobi from metaFox sits down with innovation consultant and leadership trainer Paris Thomas to explore what it really takes to design offers people want. Using tools like the Business Model Canvas and AI-powered strategy platform RapidVisual, they uncover practical methods for coaches and facilitators to fail smart, test faster, and build more relevant offerings.

Key Highlights:

• Why even seasoned consultants fall into the "build first, test later" trap—and how to avoid it
• How AI can rapidly prototype your entire business model and value proposition in minutes
• The importance of combining structured customer insights with good old human interviews

Links & Resources:

• RapidVisual – https://www.rapidvisual.ai/
• metaFox Learning Tools – https://metafox.eu/
• Use metaFox15 to get 15% off of RapidVisual
• Get Stattys notes - https://www.stattys.com/
• Check out the last two episodes featuring Paris Thomas - https://metafox.eu/podcast

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to the Business Model Canvas

00:53 Real-World Application and Challenges

01:30 Guest Introduction: Paris Thomas

02:08 Paris's Journey from Leadership to Innovation

05:21 The Role of AI in Innovation

06:11 Lessons from Entrepreneurial Failures

11:31 Building and Testing Business Models with AI

26:24 AI vs Human Insights in Workshops

27:04 Creating Customer Value Scenes

28:02 Using AI for Customer Interviews

29:25 Strategic Business Model Enhancements

30:31 AI Conversations for Better Revenue

33:54 Scaling Customer Interactions with AI

41:09 Experimenting with Pricing Strategies

46:07 Lightning Round: Facilitator Insights

51:49 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Forget webinars. This is corporate learning reimagined.

In this second installment, we go beyond balloon chairs and bootcamps—and into the virtual studio. When the pandemic hit, most corporate training went digital… and dull. But Paris and his team at Talent Hacks didn’t just adapt—they reinvented the entire online learning experience.

From creating psychometric-driven content that speaks directly to learners’ personalities, to building a full-blown TV studio with live production and multiple camera angles, Paris walks us through how they made learning as addictive as TikTok and as cinematic as Netflix.

This episode is a masterclass for facilitators, L&D professionals, and creators looking to blend entertainment, technology, and transformation.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to design training that learners actually want to finish
• The shift from one-size-fits-all to personality-personalized learning
• Why “funny” might be the most underrated instructional design principle
• Blended learning as a 3-month journey (not a 2-day fix)
• Minimum viable tools for trainers, coaches, and solo facilitators

References and Links:

• Talent Hacks : https://www.talenthacks.com
• Talent Hacks YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@talenthacks
• Zoom 1080p HD Support: https://support.zoom.com/hc/en/article?id=zm_kb&sysparm_article=KB0066185
• DISC by Wiley: https://www.everythingdisc.com
• Brooklyn Nine-Nine (TV Show: https://www.netflix.com/title/70281562
• Tony Robbins: Unleash the Power Within : https://www.tonyrobbins.com/events/unleash-the-power-within/
• The Power of Good Lighting: https://youtu.be/rGcAM1CNEU0

In this unfiltered episode of The Making of a Coach, Paris Thomas dismantles everything you thought you knew about team building. From lobbying for Canadian dairy farmers to creating immersive leadership bootcamps in the mountains of Cyprus, Paris takes us through a wild ride of contradictions, courage, and clarity. If you've ever attended a corporate “training” that felt more like a holiday than a transformation, this conversation will hit home.

We explore the pitfalls of surface-level team building (“balloon chairs,” anyone?) and dig into how real growth happens—not through lectures, but through carefully designed discomfort, vulnerability, and powerful debriefs under olive trees.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why traditional corporate training often fails (and what to do instead)
• The art of engineering transformational learning experiences
• How one well-timed “hack” can trigger deep behavioral shifts
• Why Paris refuses to run workshops without leadership in the room

Resources and references:

• Talent Hacks – https://www.talenthacks.com
• Strategizer – https://www.strategyzer.com
• The 4 Stages of Team Development (Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing) by Bruce Tuckman - https://www.mindtools.com/abyj5fi/forming-storming-norming-and-performing
• Team Debrief Cards "Speak Up" by metaFox (10% off with 'MakingOf10': https://metafox.eu/products/speak-up-cards-for-team-development
• metaFox Coaching Tools – https://metafox.eu
• Paris Thomas on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/paristhomas/

In this special episode of The Making of a Coach, we turn the spotlight onto the creation of a coaching tool rather than the coach themselves. Tobi from metaFox is joined by strengths coach Taina Nicolicin to unpack the design journey behind the metaFox Strengths Explorer, a new web app for identifying and applying strengths through behavioral feedback.

You’ll hear how the idea emerged, why most strengths assessments overwhelm clients, and how metaFox condensed their model into 12 core “roles.” In the second half, Taina coaches Tobi live using his strengths profile from the app—bringing theory to life in a real-time, self-reflective coaching session.

This episode is for anyone interested in psychometric tools and strengths-based coaching approaches.

Key Highlights

1. Why many strengths assessments overwhelm users—and what to do differently.
2. How metaFox built their 12-role strengths model from the ground up.
3. Why energy and frequency of use matter more than performance alone.
4. Live strengths coaching demo: How to identify overused and unrealized strengths.
5. How strengths feedback can shift how we lead, relate, and reflect.

Resources & Mentions

1. metaFox Strengths Explorer → https://metafox.eu/strengths
2. Connect to Taina Nicolicin → https://www.linkedin.com/in/taina-maria-nicolicin/
3. VIA Strengths & MBSP (Mindfulness-Based Strengths Practice) → https://www.viacharacter.org/programs/mbsp
4. Strengths Profile by Cappfinity → https://www.strengthsprofile.com
5. CliftonStrengths by Gallup → https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/home.aspx
6. Watch last week's episode and more: https://metafox.eu/pages/the-making-of-a-coach-podcast

Chapter Timeline

00:00 Introduction to The Making of a Coaching Tool

01:28 Guest Introduction and Strengths Coaching Overview

03:33 Personal Journey with Strengths Assessment

06:16 Development of the Strength Explorer Tool

12:07 Challenges and Refinements in Strengths Assessment

19:57 Current State of the Strength Explorer App

20:39 Condensing Assessments for Coaching

24:19 Integrating Strengths into Coaching Sessions

25:22 Exploring Strengths and Their Impact

35:07 Unrealized Strengths and Actions

41:39 Concluding Thoughts and Next Steps

In this episode, Taina Nicolicin joins the podcast to explore how strengths-based coaching transforms personal identity, team dynamics, and leadership style. A former coach to Tobi and a passionate advocate of strength psychology, Taina shares her journey, key concepts from Strengths Psychology and practical ways strengths can deepen self-awareness and leadership impact.

Key Highlights

• Taina walks through Strengths Psychology—Realized Strengths, Unrealized Strengths, Learned Behaviors, and Weaknesses—and how understanding each category can lead to clearer self-definition and more aligned coaching interventions.
• Even when clients don’t bring strengths as a topic, identifying and discussing their strengths often becomes a powerful shortcut to unlocking clarity in areas like communication, confidence, and relationships.
• The conversation shifts into leadership, where Taina and Tobi explore how recognizing overplayed strengths, integrating unrealized strengths, and intentionally using language influence effective and joyful leadership.

Resources and References Mentioned

• Positive Psychology and PERMA Framework by Martin Seligman
• VIA Character Strengths
• Alex Linley (Strengths theory researcher)
• metaFox Strengths Tool: https://metafox.eu/products/strengths-explorer-app-online-assessment-for-strengths-coaching

In this live coaching demo, Master Certified Coach Roel Schaart walks us through the DISC and Motivators report with real-time insights and practical coaching techniques. You'll hear how Roel builds rapport, adapts to different client types, and challenges assumptions while keeping it client-centered.

Key Highlights

• Why DISC is a starting point, not a label.
• How to coach leaders with strong D or I profiles.
• Using DISC + Motivators to spot inner conflict and potential growth areas.

Chapter Timeline

[00:00] Introduction and context for using DISC in coaching

[01:05] The 4 DISC styles explained in color and behavior terms

[04:45] How Roel adjusts coaching pace and tone by DISC profile

[07:18] Client reactions to DISC and avoiding the box trap

[10:22] Using DISC and Motivators together to detect misalignment

[13:40] Real-life coaching example with DISC report interpretation

[19:00] Differences between adaptive vs. natural styles

[27:00] Handling internal conflict: Speed vs. quality expectations

[33:00] Motivator breakdown and ranking interpretation

[38:00] Altruism, boundaries, and self-awareness in leadership

[44:00] Using DISC in team and group coaching settings

[52:00] Communication strategies based on color types

[54:00] Final client reflection: From self-awareness to adaptation

Resources

• Free Comprehensive DISC Assessment: https://assessments.evidence-based-coaching.solutions/r/?UipUM2hPVzg9PVI
• Connect with Roel Schaart: https://www.roel-schaart.com/
• Become a certified coach with Solutions Academy: https://www.solutionsacademy.com/
• Join our Community: https://metafox.eu/community
• Read Surrounded by Idiots by Thomas Erikson: http://goodreads.com/book/show/39101777-surrounded-by-idiots
• Roel's book "Qualitätssicherung im Coaching": https://www.coachfederation.de/infonews/buecher-der-mitglieder/qualitaetssicherung-im-coaching-kompetenzen-professionell-weiterentwickeln.html

Roel Schaart shares his extraordinary evolution from a shy IT specialist with a baby face to a high-performance coach who’s trained with Navy SEALs, led within the Tony Robbins organization, and earned his ICF MCC. In this raw and revealing conversation, Roel opens up about failure, discomfort, and the value of staying true to your coaching stance—even when it’s tempting to advise.

Key Highlights

• Why Roel believes growth only happens outside your comfort zone.
• How working with Tony Robbins shaped his intensity—and what made him walk away.
• The deep importance of ethical coaching and personal congruence.

Chapter Timeline

[00:00] Intro & Roel’s typical clients

[03:00] The LinkedIn photo and Roel’s transformation

[06:00] Journey from IT nerd to internal coach

[08:00] Working with Tony Robbins & the “hell week” mindset

[12:00] What the Navy SEAL Crucible taught him about failure

[17:00] Daily discomfort: cold showers, breathing, and mindset

[22:00] Coaching congruence: appearance, ethics, and example

[29:00] Leaving the Tony world & the shift in values

[33:00] Coaching saturation, certification, and ethical blind spots

[37:00] Continuous development and MCC practice

[40:00] Observing what matters: identity vs. actions

[44:00] Merging styles: Tony’s RPM & ICF markers

[47:00] Final reflections on authenticity and staying coach-like

Resources Mentioned

• Connect with Roel Schaart: https://www.roel-schaart.com/
• Become a certified coach with Solutions Academy: https://www.solutionsacademy.com/
• Watch our Podcast episode with Kirsten Dierolf, founder of Solutions Academy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nyGD-tEEmI
• Join our Community: https://metafox.eu/community
• Train with Navy Seals: https://training.sealfit.com/crucibles-v2
• Uncover the Wim Hof Method: https://www.wimhofmethod.com/
• Read Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/180116.Awaken_the_Giant_Within
• Get this book: "Qualitätssicherung im Coaching": https://www.coachfederation.de/infonews/buecher-der-mitglieder/qualitaetssicherung-im-coaching-kompetenzen-professionell-weiterentwickeln.html

In this episode, Todd Roache shares his remarkable journey from musician to transformational coach and mentor. He reflects on his early days in the music industry, his deep work with mental health and trauma survivors, and how these experiences shaped his authentic approach to coaching, energy work, and supervision. Todd opens up about pricing, building a private practice, avoiding burnout, and creating a diverse career that sustains both passion and well-being.

Key Insights:

Transformational space is about holding presence without rushing to "fix" or "heal" people.

Building a coaching practice takes time, intuition, and sometimes external gigs to create financial breathing space.

Pricing and business models evolve naturally when you tune into your own growth rather than forcing market strategies.

Chapters & Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction to Reflective Spaces

01:02 – Transition to Coaching and Mentoring

03:55 – Todd’s Journey from Music to Mental Health

05:58 – Lessons from Working with Trauma Survivors

08:07 – Discovering Coaching through Animas

11:10 – Navigating Coach Education and Business Building

15:07 – Branching into Energy Work

17:12 – Teaching and Training at Animas

23:16 – Presence, Stage Comfort, and Authenticity

24:15 – Evolving Private Practice and Pricing

30:00 – Personal Retreats and Energy Sessions

32:32 – The Role of Supervision and Continuous Learning

34:00 – Advice for Aspiring Coaches

39:10 – Role Models and Inspiration

41:16 – Final Reflection and Closing Question

Resources:

Connect with Todd: https://www.toddroache.com/

Connect with Todd Roache on LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/todd-roache-pcc-144b0a16b

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

ICF PCC Accreditation - https://coachingfederation.org/credentials-and-standards/credentials-paths/pcc-credential

Join our WhatsApp Community: https://metaFox.eu/community

In this powerful coaching demo, Todd Roache invites us into a deeply reflective space where shadow work, presence, and identity unraveling converge. He explores what it means to face the darkest parts of ourselves—not to fix or label them, but to hold them with love. From howling on the floor in grief to mentoring powerful women navigating spiritual awakenings, Todd shows up without a game face and models what it means to coach from lived experience. This episode is for coaches, seekers, and leaders willing to go beyond performance into raw transformation.

Key Highlights:

How self-acceptance begins with sitting in paradox

What it means to coach without clinging to ego or identity

Todd’s transition from musician to space-holder for existential work

Chapters

0:00:00 – Teaser

0:00:46 – Introduction

0:02:04 – The Crossroads of Truth

0:02:27 – Navigating Inner Journeys

0:02:49 – Facing the Darkness Within

0:04:32 – The Role of Suffering in Self-Discovery

0:06:34 – The Practitioner’s Path

0:08:15 – The Balance of Light and Dark

0:09:18 – Client Relationships and Resonance

0:09:38 – Diverse Roles and Sanity

0:25:00 – Exploring Identity and Beliefs

0:34:00 – Awareness vs. Energy Work

0:35:21 – Practical Applications of Energy Work

0:38:00 – Combining Coaching and Energy Work

Resources:

Connect with Todd: ⁠https://www.toddroache.com/⁠

Connect with Todd Roache on LinkedIn: ⁠https://uk.linkedin.com/in/todd-roache-pcc-144b0a16b⁠

Owning Your Own Shadow by Robert A. Johnson: ⁠https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2717298⁠

The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael Robert Smith: ⁠https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1963638.The_Untethered_Soul⁠

Animas Coaching School: https://www.animascoaching.com/⁠

ICF PCC Accreditation: https://coachingfederation.org/credentials-and-standards/credentials-paths/pcc-credential⁠

Join our WhatsApp Community: ⁠https://metafox.eu/pages/get-involved

In this episode of The Making of a Coach, Kirsten Dierolf, founder of Solutions Academy, shares how she built a global, ICF- and EMCC-accredited coaching school with lightness, fun and a rock solid online marketing strategy.

Episode Highlights

Accreditation That Serves, Not Boxes You In - Kirsten explains the difference between ICF and EMCC—and why many coaches should consider both.

Scaling Without Sleaze - Forget lead magnets and pushy funnels—Kirsten built Solutions Academy through trust, great content, and organic growth.

Global Coaching, Real Connection - From WhatsApp peer groups to real-life reunions in Barcelona, discover how she made online coach training deeply personal and international.

Chapters

Intro & Teaser – 00:00:00

Exploring Personal Coaching Journeys – 00:01:50

Creating an Inclusive Training Environment – 00:09:00

Balancing ICF and EMCC Standards – 00:10:22

The Early Days: From Theology to Coaching – 00:11:01

Discovering Solution-Focused Coaching – 00:15:45

Building a Coaching Business – 00:20:05

Training Programs at Solutions Academy – 00:23:04

Joining Solutions Academy: What to Expect – 00:24:05

Course Structure and Community Engagement – 00:25:00

Innovative Tools and Techniques – 00:26:24

Global Diversity and Networking – 00:27:22

The Evolution of Coaching Training – 00:32:00

The Evolution of Solutions Academy – 00:33:00

Accreditation and Growth Strategies – 00:39:14

Marketing and Building Trust – 00:42:49

References & Resources

Check out Solutions Academy: https://www.solutionsacademy.com/

Check out Solutions Academy on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SolutionsAcademy

Check out this book for client relationships: The Trusted Advisor

AI Coaching Feedback Tool - Ovida.IO

Join our metaFox Community on WhatsApp - https://metaFox.eu/community

ICF (International Coaching Federation) – https://coachingfederation.org

EMCC (European Mentoring & Coaching Council) – https://www.emccglobal.org

Insoo Kim Berg & Steve de Shazer – Pioneers of Solution-Focused Coaching