The Ultimate Coach Podcast

Derek Kliff, founder of The Approach, recovered from nine chronic health conditions by changing how he related to his own mind. In this episode, we talk about the difference between observing your thoughts and identifying with them, and about Derek's process of "accept then act" for changing patterns that keep repeating. Whether you're working through physical healing or trying to change your mental or emotional state, this conversation is about taking small, real steps toward self-awareness.

Most people spend their lives trying to manage stress - Take The Approach helps you dismantle the internal mechanism that creates it.

Derek Kliff is the founder of Take The Approach, a somatic retraining process that interrupts automatic mental loops, down-regulates stress signals, and restores grounded, real-time presence.

Contact: [email protected]

In this episode, Cari sits down with Abigail Olayo and her 12-year-old triplet daughters, Ava, Adelina, and Audrey, to explore how personal development and intentional “being” can become part of everyday family life.

They share how morning meditation and declarations help them choose who they want to be, navigate conflict, and practice seeking first to understand rather than reacting. The family also discusses their purpose of “being love,” creating safe spaces for honest conversations, and the ways these practices are shaping the girls’ relationships, confidence, and personal growth.

In this episode, Cari sits down with Kate Coleman for an honest conversation about authenticity, vulnerability, and the courage to be fully seen. Kate shares how embracing both the polished and imperfect parts of her story—including relationship challenges and past mistakes—deepened her connection with others and transformed the way she shows up in life and work. Together, they explore radical self-acceptance, difficult conversations, and the power of community in creating space for genuine connection and growth.

Bio:

Katelyn Coleman (Kate) is a content strategist + messaging advisor for coaches, leaders, advisors, healers, and service-based businesses who have devoted their lives to making an impact.

She grew up in Westminster, MA and was the Head of Marketing + Sales for the largest women’s networking group in New England, Boston Business Women for 4+ years. While overseeing all social media, email, and launch campaigns - she got CLEAR AF on how to captivate people in content, create trust 10x faster than anyone else, and what actually makes people buy.

Now, full time in her own business, she helps leaders turn real client moments, conversations, and lived experience into content that reflects the DOPENESS + POWER of who they are. And in turn, move people faster into their DMs, comment sections, and client containers.

Equally as obsessed with BEING as she is with social media, much of Kate’s work is rooted in the behind-the-scenes leadership. She believes the more we remove the metaphorical “dog shit” from our lives that has us masking, micro-managing the reactions of others, and the all-consuming fear of being seen for who we TRULY are.. The more we will win.

She now lives in a converted 1995 Ford 7.3 Ambulance with her partner, and childhood best friend of 10 years, Cameron and their all white savage warrior kitty, Gypsy in San Diego, California.

Wayne Upchurch joins Cari for a thoughtful conversation about authenticity, personal growth, and letting go of perfectionism. Drawing from his experiences in coaching, creativity, and the Being community, Wayne shares how learning to show up honestly - even in vulnerability - transformed the way he connects with himself and others. Together, they explore the power of small, consistent changes, community support, and embracing the ongoing journey of becoming more fully yourself.

Wayne Upchurch is a personal and executive coach known as YOUR MAGIC Mirror. Drawing on decades of experience in photojournalism, facilitation, expressive writing, and leadership development, he helps individuals and organizations create from Being-where clarity, authenticity, and real leadership emerge.

This conversation focused on exploring the concept of presence and its importance in various aspects of life, including coaching, legal practice, and personal relationships. Cari and Spencer discussed their personal experiences with presence, with Cari sharing how embracing imperfections led to self-acceptance and Spencer reflecting on how presence and grace connect in coaching and meditation practices. The conversation concluded with Spencer sharing his journey of improving presence in different areas of his life, particularly in coaching baseball and his marriage, emphasizing the transformative power of being fully present in the moment.

Spencer Lee is an immigration attorney based in Phoenix and the founder of Saguaro Legal. He has been practicing immigration law since 2016, with a focus on removal defense, asylum, waivers, family-based immigration, and federal litigation. His work sits at the intersection of law, humanity, and long-term strategy. Spencer is deeply committed to doing this work not just correctly, but thoughtfully—prioritizing clarity, dignity, and real advocacy. He is building a firm centered on “client astonishment,” where clients feel seen, informed, and respected rather than processed.

Originally from Logan, Utah, Spencer has lived in Mesa since 2015 and is a husband and father who places family at the center of his life. His faith, love of travel, and appreciation for meaningful experiences strongly shape how he approaches both life and work. He values honesty, strong systems, and personal growth, and he is intentional about designing a life and business that allow for presence, perspective, and depth—not just productivity.

Spencer has dedicated years to volunteer service with local consulates, particularly the Guatemalan and Mexican Consulates, providing free legal consultations and support to immigrant families with limited access to resources. Service has been a constant thread throughout his life, from earlier faith-based service to his ongoing commitment to access, education, and dignity in the immigration process. For Spencer, immigration law is not just a profession—it is a calling to advocate, serve, and help families build stable and hopeful futures.

Ryan and I sat down for a conversation that’s real, humble, and full of truth. He shares openly about the moment he realized he wasn’t living from his own identity — and what it took to find his way back to himself. We talk about breaking patterns, asking for support, and the kind of community that doesn’t just cheer you on… but helps you grow.

It’s honest. It’s human. And it’s a reminder that you’re not meant to do life alone.

About Ryan Morris

Ryan Morris a.k.a. Ryan The Lion helps people create miracles in their life. He is a miracleologist!

He is an empowerment coach specializing in helping others create the life they always wanted while helping them remember their giant potential by breaking down barriers and shattering limiting beliefs.   

Ryan in partnership with Nicholas T. Smith, who is the author of The Giants and The Smalls, started Mandelbrot Productions (A publishing and production company), created A Tribe Of Giants on Facebook, started a Podcast called Wake Up With Giants TV, and created The 12 Journeys that are the foundation for their program for partner coaches and individuals called Sūm Giganté, which means I Am Giant!

Together Nick and Ryan have taken their Giant message to radio, television, schools, libraries, jail, seminars, events, and retreats.  

They have also shared their message at a few Ultimate Experiences which obviously have been their favorite!

Ben and I open up a conversation around presence — not as a concept, but as a lived experience. We talk about authenticity, emotional transformation, and the courage it takes to face yourself right where you are. It’s an honest, grounded exploration of what happens when you stop running from your feelings and start allowing them to guide you.

About Ben Welch:

After living restricted and conditioned by the fundamentalist religious beliefs of his upbringing, Ben at 30 took a machete to his childhood conditioning, instead cutting his own path and navigating life in many ways that coincide with this book - seeking out his hidden potential by all means necessary. 

With several careers spanning over different industries from building and construction to sales, personal training and transformational coaching, he has developed a personal and professional focus on observing and renovating life beginning with the foundation and having a construction-like principle based approach to observing one’s self, being open to the cracks that affect one’s emotional, psychological, spiritual and material experiences of life which clearly point to the truth of who we are.  

Then newly constructing a life on purpose as the human one is committed to being. 

A father of 5 children between 13- 21, and husband to beautiful Melissa for 24 years, Ben has carried out this process amongst the joys and challenges of marriage, the loss of a child and child rearing, overcoming grief and depression and instead choosing commitment to a place of living with patience in the discovery of who he is for himself and, in turn, others. 

Ben loves to support others in this process and lives with passion and wonder for the stories of how the world opens up for all humans when they choose to live actively in the arena of life, bringing courage and vulnerability with strength and power to life. He loves to watch their expansion with joy, honor and respect, and see the renovation potential we all are advance from fear and lack into service and success.

BEING with Cari on The Ultimate Coach Podcast: Join Emma and myself for a heartfelt conversation about the beauty and challenge of simply being. Through stories of nursing, motherhood, healing, and personal growth, we explore how authenticity and love transform the way we experience ourselves — and one another.

This conversation invites you to reflect on self-awareness, connection, and the courage it takes to live and love with openness and truth.

BEING with Cari on The Ultimate Coach Podcast

Join me and Tony as we explore what it means to live with authenticity — not as an ideal, but as a daily practice.

In this episode, we uncover:

• How to consciously choose your “being” in every situation
• The connection between gratitude, growth, and joy
• Why kindness and awareness can transform even small moments
• How to align truth, fulfillment, and action

Tony’s Bio: 

 Tony Schmaltz is a powerhouse speaker, leadership coach, and performance expert who helps entrepreneurs, founders, and corporate leaders eliminate confusion, elevate communication, and lead with unshakable clarity. With a style that blends no-BS truth with grounded wisdom and engaging humor, Tony brings real results and big breakthroughs.  

In this episode, Cari and Martine explore one of life’s most important questions — “What do you truly want?”

Martine shares her personal experience of realizing how much of her life had been shaped by external expectations and societal “shoulds,” rather than her own authentic desires. Through that process, she discovered the power of listening inward, honoring genuine hunger, and following what feels deeply alive.

Together, Cari and Martine dive into:

• The difference between external validation and authentic fulfillment
• How trauma can make it difficult to recognize or trust your own desires
• Ways to support clients in reconnecting with their true wants and needs
• The anxiety that often surfaces when exploring authenticity
• The balance between enthusiasm and suffering when pursuing passion
• The role of coaching and presence in helping others rediscover their worth

This conversation invites listeners to pause, reflect, and reconnect with what’s real — beyond expectations, beyond fear, and beyond the need for approval.

Available in The Ultimate Coach Facebook group, on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and other major platforms.

Martine’s Bio: 

Martine Cannon is a globally recognized strategist in culture transformation and executive leadership, known for guiding CEOs and top teams through seismic change with precision, depth, and a deeply human approach. For over two decades, she has helped some of the world’s most complex organizations evolve their leadership, performance, and culture to meet the demands of a fast-changing world.

Martine’s work centers on the principle of coherence: inner coherence within leaders, interpersonal coherence in and across teams and cultural coherence – which brings order and energy at scale. She enables leadership teams to go beyond leading change to transmitting it.