The AC Podcast

In episode 3 of our Coaching for Health and Wellbeing podcast series, hosts Ana Paula Nacif and Christian van Nieuwerburgh, and guest Andrew Parsons — a biomedical scientist turned Master Certified Coach — explore what it truly means to coach in the mental health and wellbeing space. Andrew brings a rare blend of clinical knowledge and coaching expertise to a nuanced conversation about supporting people living with long-term health conditions. A key starting point is understanding health and mental health not as a fixed state but as a dynamic continuum, shaped by life circumstances, relationships, and personal history: a reframe that sets the tone for everything that follows. A central theme is ethical practice: knowing where coaching ends and counselling begins, and why that distinction matters, particularly in clinical environments. Andrew explores coaching as a health promotion activity rather than a clinical intervention, the critical importance of trauma-informed practice, and why supervision is non-negotiable when working with vulnerable populations. Coaches in this space, he argues, are not therapists or clinicians, but they do offer something profound — a collaborative, reflective relationship that helps clients develop new perspectives and capabilities to navigate complex health journeys. What makes this conversation particularly distinctive is Andrew's exploration of nature and human connection as vital but often overlooked dimensions of wellbeing. In our modern lives, we have increasingly lost touch with the natural world and with each other, yet as social creatures, these connections are fundamental to how we thrive. Andrew argues that coaches working within a wellbeing orientation are well placed to help clients reconnect with both, and that this relational, holistic view of health is where coaching's unique value truly comes into its own. You will learn: · Heath and mental health exist on a continuum: it is dynamic, not fixed, and shaped by life circumstances, relationships and personal history · Ethical practice, scope of practice and supervision are non-negotiable, especially in clinical or health contexts · Why coaches need to have an holistic approach, consider the importance of connection for wellbeing and let go of needing specific outcomes "Knowing our capabilities and having the appropriate training to be working in this area is really, really important." Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review! Your feedback helps us bring you more valuable content. For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit: https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel-coaching-for-health-and-wellbeing-mental-health-scope-ethics-holistic

In episode 2 of our Coaching for Health and Wellbeing series, hosts Christian van Nieuwerburgh and Ana Paula Nacif are joined by Dr Pádraic Dunne to explore the integration of lifestyle medicine with coaching and positive psychology. Dr Dunne brings the pillars of lifestyle medicine — healthy eating, physical activity, sleep, stress management, avoiding risky substances, and social connectedness — to life with characteristic warmth and clarity, framing them not as clinical prescriptions but as common-sense foundations that generations before us simply lived by. Grounded in robust scientific evidence and focused squarely on preventing non-communicable disease, lifestyle medicine offers coaches a compelling and accessible framework for supporting client health and wellbeing. Central to the conversation is Pádraic's concept of positive health — the point where positive psychology, lifestyle medicine, and health psychology meet — with positive health coaching as the delivery system that brings all three together. He makes a powerful case that knowledge alone is not enough to change behaviour; what people need is a genuine, empowering human connection, and that is precisely what skilled coaching offers. The episode explores the co-design approach at the heart of effective health coaching, where coach and client show up as two experts — one in lifestyle medicine, one in themselves — working in true partnership to build meaningful, sustainable change. Pádraic and the hosts also reflect on the broader role coaches can play in health and wellbeing, including the potential for health coaches to act as a bridge between primary and tertiary care, and the growing reach of digital health coaching. A thread running throughout is the reminder that connection, meaning, and purpose are among the most powerful contributors to a long and healthy life — and that coaches, by the very nature of what they do, are already working at the heart of that. You will learn: · How lifestyle medicine provides coaches with a practical, evidence-based framework for health · What Positive Health coaching is and how it provides an empowering partnership for good client outcomes · The quality of the therapeutic alliance, the experience of being truly heard, and the pursuit of a meaningful life are among the most powerful factors in long-term health and flourishing "The two things that help people live the longest with the longest health span are connection to other humans and meaning and purpose." Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review! Your feedback helps us bring you more valuable content. For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit: https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel-coaching-for-health-and-wellbeing-lifestyle-medicine-positive-health-coaching

In this opening episode of the new Coaching for Health and Wellbeing podcast series, hosts Christian van Nieuwerburgh and Ana Paula Nacif set the scene for what promises to be a rich and thought-provoking conversations. They introduce a central theme that runs throughout the series: coaching is not simply a tool for wellbeing — it is a wellbeing intervention in its own right. Drawing on their extensive experience, Christian and Ana explore how coaching empowers individuals to take greater agency over their health and lives, fostering self-responsibility and a deeper sense of flourishing. A key focus of this episode is the important distinction between health coaching — a specific niche typically situated within clinical or healthcare settings, concerned with managing conditions such as nutrition, chronic pain, or hypertension — and the broader umbrella of coaching for wellbeing, which encompasses emotional, social, psychological, and spiritual dimensions of life. While the two overlap in meaningful ways (physical and emotional health are deeply intertwined), understanding where one ends and the other begins matters enormously both for coaches working in this space and the clients they help. The conversation draws on positive psychology, evidence-based practice, and the evolving role of coaches within healthcare and community settings. Ethics and scope of practice sit at the heart of this discussion. Christian and Ana Paula reflect on what it means to work in genuine partnership with clients, honouring their autonomy while remaining clear about professional boundaries. Whether you work in organisations, communities, schools, or clinical environments, this episode offers a grounding framework for anyone interested in the intersection of coaching and wellbeing. You will learn: · Why coaching is itself a wellbeing tool · Health coaching and coaching for wellbeing are related but distinct. · Why ethics and scope of practice are so important in coaching for health or wellbeing. "You can't talk about health without talking about wellbeing or talking about wellbeing without considering people's health. But in terms of coaching, there is there is a difference." Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review! Your feedback helps us bring you more valuable content. For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit: https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel-coaching-for-health-and-wellbeing-introduction-positive-health-wellbeing

In this episode of A Day in the Life Of, host Maxine Bell sits down with Selana Kong — coach, mediator, and music educator — whose life has woven together the cultures of Hong Kong, Canada, and the UK into something truly unique. Selana shares her refreshing perspective on embracing multiple passions without losing yourself in the process, reminding us that progress, not perfection, is the real measure of a life well lived. Her guiding philosophy — "one step at a time, one foot in front of the other" — is a quiet but powerful antidote to the pressure we all feel to have everything figured out. From her work in elder mediation to her deep commitment to bridging generational divides in Chinese culture, Selana brings both personal and professional wisdom to the conversation. She reflects on Hong Kong's evolving identity through the lens of someone who has lived its changes firsthand and speaks movingly about how nature — particularly the landscapes along the border of Hong Kong and China — has been a constant source of grounding and solace throughout her journey. Her transition from music educator to coach and mediator is a story in itself: learning to step back, let go of the urge to lead, and instead create space for others to find their own way. Music remains at the heart of who Selana is — and in this episode she shares a moving story about a village in North Wales and an international choir festival — one that has been bringing voices from across the world together since 1946 under a simple but radical theme: peace and reconciliation. It became a pivotal moment in Selana's life both professionally and personally, "That was my first experience, actually feeling that I am not Chinese. I'm not Welsh. I'm just me. I'm just who I am because I feel accepted." It is, at its core, a story about what becomes possible when people choose connection over division Selana's parting message is, "You are who you are, and you are exactly who you're meant to be. That is perfect." You will learn: · You don't have to choose just one path. Focus on forward momentum and let your unique combination of interests become your greatest asset. · Whether in her mediation work or within her own family, Selana highlights how vital it is to close the gap between generations — especially within cultures experiencing rapid change. Listening across difference is one of the most powerful things we can do. · Self-care means returning to what nourishes you. For Selana, that's music. Whatever your "first love" is, making intentional time for it isn't indulgent — it's essential to showing up fully in every other area of your life. Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review! Your feedback helps us bring you more valuable content. For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit: https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel_day-in-the-life-of-coaches-culture-connection-identity

In the final episode of our inspiring series on Building Successful Coaching Cultures, host Rosie Nice is joined by CEO of HCG Strategic Solutions, facilitator and executive and leadership coach, Dr. Peter James for a rich conversation on the behaviours, mindsets, and leadership qualities that turn coaching from a buzzword into a business-critical culture. Drawing on his extensive consultancy experience, Peter offers a nuanced definition of coaching culture as a living set of behaviours and mindsets woven into everyday leadership and communication. Central to his philosophy is self-awareness — the foundation upon which trust, accountability, and psychological safety are built, creating environments where people feel genuinely safe to grow. Peter makes a compelling business case for coaching cultures, from real life examples, as well as research showing significantly higher revenue growth, employee engagement, retention, and customer satisfaction in organisations that commit to the practice — with some studies reporting up to a 700% return on investment. He walks through the three pillars underpinning his work at HCG Strategic Solutions: executive and leadership coaching, structured leadership development, and transformational change initiatives. Together, these create the conditions for leaders to model coaching behaviours, work through resistance and scepticism, build emotional intelligence, and guide teams with greater confidence and adaptability. The conversation closes with an encouraging message for organisations at the start of their coaching journey: start small, be intentional, and trust the process. Whether navigating scepticism, building psychological safety, or distinguishing between internal and external coaching roles, Peter offers practical, grounded guidance for leaders ready to invest in their people and culture. You will learn · Why self-awareness in leaders is key to introducing coaching into teams and organizations. · Clear evidence that coaching cultures consistently outperform on revenue growth, employee engagement and customer satisfaction · Embedding a coaching culture a marathon, not a sprint – incremental, intentional steps 'An organization that leans into a coaching culture, you're not just benefitting or strengthening the individuals within the organization to include your leaders, but then you're having better outcomes and some studies are suggesting almost a 700% return on investment.' Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review! Your feedback helps us bring you more valuable content. For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit: https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel-building-coaching-cultures-transformation-leadership **Join us for the AC 2026 Global Conference: 𝘊𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 - a two-day virtual event for leaders and coaches who want to build thriving, high-performing organizations.

In episode eight of our Building Successful Coaching Cultures, host Rosie Nice, interviews Sandra Cullen, Vice President of Training and Customer Experience at Air Astana, about the airline's inspiring 15-year journey in building a coaching culture. Sandra shares her extensive international experience in shifting organizational leadership from directive approaches to empowering employees through coaching. The conversation explores the strategic, patient work required to embed coaching at every level of an organization, offering practical insights for leaders and HR professionals seeking to foster a supportive, high-performance workplace. Sandra details the challenges of implementing cultural change, including overcoming resistance from both managers and employees. She discusses how coaching has been integrated into daily management practices and leadership development, emphasizing the importance of understanding and adapting to local and organizational cultures. Sue reveals how Air Astana has sustained its coaching practices at all levels of leadership, as the organization has grown, including a focus on "coaching on the go"—informal coaching moments embedded in everyday work interactions rather than relying solely on formal programs. Throughout the conversation, Sandra highlights the measurable impact of coaching culture on employee engagement, performance, and retention. She emphasizes that building a coaching culture requires patience, persistence, and clear demonstration of value, while also exploring practical strategies for leaders to develop coaching competencies within their teams and scale these practices sustainably. You will learn: · Why cultural context is critical and successful coaching culture implementation must be adapted to local and organizational cultures. · Why 'Coaching on the Go' is as important as formal coaching programs embedding coaching into daily management interactions creates lasting behavioural change, - making coaching feel natural and accessible to all employees. · Patience and measurement drive long-term success – building a coaching culture is a long-term investment requiring consistency and persistence. 'I am convinced our engagement scores are the highest they've ever been because of the shift over the years in how departments work with their people through coaching.' Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review! Your feedback helps us bring you more valuable content. For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit: https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel-building-coaching-cultures-organizational-employee-engagement **Join us for the AC 2026 Global Conference: 𝘊𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 - a two-day virtual event for leaders and coaches who want to build thriving, high-performing organizations

In episode seven of our Building Successful Coaching Cultures podcast series, host Rosie Nice interviews Sue Smith, Learning and Development Manager at East Lancashire Learning Group, about the transformative power of embedding coaching culture within large education organisations. Sue shares her experience of moving away from traditional, judgmental observation-based performance management toward a more supportive, developmental coaching approach. Through practical strategies including learning walks, professional learning conversations, and action learning sets, East Lancashire Learning Group has successfully fostered an environment where staff feel valued, psychologically safe, and engaged in their own professional growth. Sue discusses how traditional observation and feedback methods, often perceived as judgmental and evaluative, can undermine staff morale and create a culture of fear rather than learning. By shifting to a coaching-led approach organisations can transform their performance management systems. Sue shares practical implementation strategies for embedding coaching into everyday practices, as well as the challenges faced. She emphasises the importance of ongoing learning and development support for staff in coaching practices, and the recognition that building a thriving coaching culture is a long-term journey requiring persistence, patience, and genuine organisational commitment. Sue demonstrates how moving from a performance management mindset focused on judgment and evaluation to one centred on empowerment, curiosity, and collaborative growth can unlock significant benefits for both individuals and the organisation. The episode provides valuable insights for leaders and coaches working in educational settings, human resources professionals implementing coaching programmes, and any professional keen to understand how psychological safety and reflective practice can drive organisational change and improved staff engagement. You will learn: · How moving from a judgemental observation model to a coaching approach learning and development model dramatically improves staff engagement and wellbeing · How to embed coaching into everyday conversations and practices as well as organizational strategy. · Why persistence and long-term planning is key to embedding a coaching culture "Sometimes it takes time to develop a culture, and we want to see results really quickly. but we just need to just continue delivering training continuing to model practice. and then eventually more and more people will embed that culture and culture across the organization." Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review! Your feedback helps us bring you more valuable content. For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit: https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel-building-coaching-cultures-education-development-performance **Join us for the AC 2026 Global Conference: 𝘊𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 - a two-day virtual event for leaders and coaches who want to build thriving, high-performing organizations.

In the 6th episode of the Building Successful Coaching Cultures series, host Rosie Nice, is joined by Professor Jonathan Passmore to explore what it really takes to embed a coaching culture within organisations. Drawing on decades of research and practice, Jonathan unpacks how a coaching culture goes beyond individual interventions, becoming a default way of thinking, leading, and interacting. He highlights the value of aligning leadership intent with everyday behaviours, and the importance of extending coaching principles across all levels of an organisation—not just within formal leadership roles. The conversation also tackles one of the field's biggest challenges: measuring impact. Jonathan discusses the current gaps in empirical evidence and offers practical suggestions for capturing meaningful metrics, alongside case study insights that demonstrate the tangible benefits of coaching cultures. The discussion reflects on the evolution of coaching, from a niche leadership tool to a broader organisational capability, encompassing internal, external, and increasingly AI-enabled approaches. Looking ahead, Rosie and Jonathan explore the growing role of technology in democratizing access to coaching, while also addressing ethical considerations and the unique value of human connection. Jonathan shares his latest research into the differences between human and AI coaching, raising important questions about what makes coaching truly effective. The episode offers both strategic insight and practical guidance for organisations seeking to foster more collaborative, empowered, and high-performing cultures. You Will Learn: · A coaching culture is not just about coaching programmes—it's about embedding coaching behaviours as a core organisational norm at every level. · Measuring impact remains complex, but combining qualitative insights, case studies, and targeted metrics can help demonstrate value. · AI is expanding access to coaching, but human coaches bring unique relational and embodied qualities that remain essential. "For me, coaching culture is not the poster on the wall or what the annual report or the chief executive says that it is. It's the actual behaviours that employees each and every day display…It embodies all of this with all of the stakeholders across the wider system in a way that is about growing development and a win-win based culture for us collectively as well as for customers." Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review! Your feedback helps us bring you more valuable content. For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit: https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel-building-coaching-cultures-research-AI-organizational **Join us for the AC 2026 Global Conference: 𝘊𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 - a two-day virtual event for leaders and coaches who want to build thriving, high-performing organizations.

In the fourth episode of our Building Successful Coaching Cultures series, host, Rosie Nice talks to Charlotte Hurst to reflect on her time leading Farsight Consulting and how a simple intention - to build a great place to work and deliver outstanding client outcomes - evolved into a deeply embedded coaching culture. Despite not starting with a grand design, the company expanded from a small tight-knit team into an organisation of more than 140 people, where coaching became the backbone of how quality, learning and growth were sustained. 'We realized more and more over time that using coaching almost as the like the micro process would enable us to provide high performing people who could work with clients at scale and in a in a cost-effective way.' Charlotte shares how giving everyone a coach who wasn't their line manager created space for honest reflection, stronger ownership and real psychological safety. Rather than sitting on the sidelines, coaching became woven into recruitment, project delivery, feedback and career progression. Regular, structured conversations ensured that development kept pace with rapid scaling, while experienced coaches mentored new ones to create a powerful multiplier effect across the business. From navigating hyper-growth to adapting through the pandemic, Charlotte explains why a coaching culture is never the end goal in itself. It's the mechanism that enables people to thrive, supports consistent performance and results, and helps an organisation stay resilient when circumstances change. Listeners will come away with practical ideas for embedding coaching into the everyday rhythm of work and for aligning it with values, learning and long-term strategy. You will learn · The significance of embedding coaching as a skill within the broader organizational framework. · The four principles Farsight Consulting maintained all through their growth · Recruitment strategies focused on potential and core capabilities rather than just experience. Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review! Your feedback helps us bring you more valuable content. For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit: https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel-building-coaching-cultures-people-first-business-success **Join us for the AC 2026 Global Conference: 𝘊𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 - a two-day virtual event for leaders and coaches who want to build thriving, high-performing organizations.

How do you move from telling your team what to do to truly empowering them? In this episode host, Rosie Nice sits down with Jan Doyle, a specialist in leadership coaching and organizational development, to explore what it really takes to embed coaching into teams and organizations. Jan demystifies the idea of a coaching culture, drawing a clear distinction between professional, 'pure' coaching and the everyday coaching approaches leaders and managers can use to unlock performance. At the heart of the conversation is a powerful mindset shift: moving from telling people what to do to asking the kinds of questions that help them think, learn and take ownership. Jan highlights the conditions that allow coaching to thrive, particularly psychological safety, empathy and a genuine commitment to growth. She explains that when leaders take a coaching approach, feedback lands differently: people are not only more open to hearing it, but they also understand its purpose and see its value for their own development. Jan shares common challenges such as securing senior management buy-in and overcoming resistance to change and illustrates her points with real-world examples. She also highlights practical strategies and ongoing support that help coaching habits stick, reinforcing her key advice: ask, don't tell. This approach empowers teams, drives growth, and demonstrates that coaching skills have value not just at work, but in personal and professional relationships more broadly. You will learn: · Why building a coaching culture starts with a shift from directive leadership to curiosity and questions. · How psychological safety, empathy and a coaching style help people recognise the value of feedback for their growth. · Simple, practical ways to embed coaching habits into everyday management and overcome resistance to change. "It's shifting from telling to asking and applying the principles of coaching without being a true coach: about using that coaching approach in the workplace." Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review! Your feedback helps us bring you more valuable content. For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit: https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel-building-coaching-cultures-practical-tips-insights-leadership **Join us for the AC 2026 Global Conference: 𝘊𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 - a two-day virtual event for leaders and coaches who want to build thriving, high-performing organizations.

In the third episode of Building Successful Coaching Cultures, host Rosie Nice, speaks with Felix Karl Gaehwiler, an adaptable and pragmatic leader driving Business Transformation for DMC Europe at Kuoni Tumlare. Felix shares a candid look at life inside a blame-driven sales culture—where responsibility was always pushed outward, energy was low, and while people were functioning, they weren't thriving. The team was stuck, unhappy, and disconnected. Change began when a new Head of Sales, Tim, introduced a coaching-led approach. Rather than giving solutions, Tim first listened—to frustrations, complaints, and concerns—and then asked different questions that challenged individuals and teams to take ownership: "What ideas do you have to solve that?" Felix recalls how challenging this felt at first and how it took him on his own journey, confronting his resistance until he could see the approach working and eventually train as a coach himself. The conversation explores how coaching shifted accountability, relationships, and performance over time, while also highlighting the ongoing effort required to sustain a coaching mindset amid leadership changes, cross-cultural teams, and hybrid working. This episode is a grounded, human exploration of what coaching really looks like inside organisations—messy, challenging, and ultimately transformative. You will learn: · Blame cultures can appear functional while masking stagnation, disengagement, and low accountability. · Listening and curiosity are a key part of building a coaching culture · The powerful shifts that occur over time when a coaching culture is built into organizations 'I think a coaching culture exists when people feel safe to develop new ideas, but even more, when they feel safe to give and accept feedback, irrespective of position or title.' Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review! Your feedback helps us bring you more valuable content. For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit: https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel-building-coaching-cultures-blame-culture-coaching-organizations **Join us for the AC 2026 Global Conference: 𝘊𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 - a two-day virtual event for leaders and coaches who want to build thriving, high-performing organizations.

The second episode of Building Successful Coaching Cultures explores what it really takes to embed a coaching culture inside a high-performance sales environment. Host Rosie Nice is joined by Jo Richards, Head of Education at L'Oréal Dermatological Beauty, who shares her first-hand experience of shifting sales leadership from a traditional, directive management style to a sustainable coaching-led approach. Together, they unpack the realities of introducing coaching within fast-paced, target-driven teams—without compromising commercial results. Jo discussed the cultural and practical challenges faced when embedding coaching at scale, from gaining senior stakeholder buy-in to supporting middle managers as they develop new coaching capabilities. She explains how a clear vision and the MAGIC coaching model helped them weave coaching conversations into everyday sales practice, performance management, and team leadership. The conversation highlights how engaging every level of the organisation is critical to building trust, accountability, and long-term career development. This episode is packed with practical insights for leaders, coaches, and organisations looking to build a strong coaching culture that drives both people development and business performance. Jo shares actionable advice on training managers, sustaining momentum through ongoing learning, and balancing coaching with ambitious sales targets—demonstrating how coaching can enhance team dynamics, strengthen relationships, and support consistent high performance over time. You will learn: · How to successfully transition from directive management to a coaching-based leadership approach in high-performance sales teams · The business and people benefit of introducing a coaching culture in the workplace · Practical ways to integrate coaching into everyday leadership and performance conversations "The goal is still the same. You need to hit your sales targets—nothing changes, just your approach." Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review! Your feedback helps us bring you more valuable content. For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit: https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel-building-coaching-cultures-high-performance-sales-teams **Join us for the AC 2026 Global Conference: 𝘊𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 - a two-day virtual event for leaders and coaches who want to build thriving, high-performing organizations.

In the first episode of Building Successful Coaching Cultures series, host Rosie Nice speaks with Anna Skeats, CEO of the Rainy Day Trust and former CEO of The Mason Foundation. From her early career supporting vulnerable communities to building a national charity from scratch, Anna's leadership has always centred on empowerment over direction. Anna challenges the myth that coaching cultures tolerate underperformance, sharing how coaching approaches actually create high-performing, effective and motivated teams by encouraging the skills and strengths already within individuals and teams. Drawing on her experience at the Mason Foundation, she explores how trust, psychological safety, and clear expectations work together to drive inclusion, accountability, and impact. Throughout the conversation, Anna reflects on the realities of embedding a coaching culture in practice, the importance of listening and responding to real needs, and the incredible results she's experienced. Her insights offer practical guidance for leaders seeking to create sustainable organisations without losing focus on performance, accountability, or impact. You will learn: · How coaching cultures enhance performance and empower teams · How psychological safety and trust unlocks capability · Leadership starts with listening – Responding to real needs, rather than assumptions "I found that the way to empower people to make change was to listen, learn, and respond, not just tell individuals what to do." Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review! Your feedback helps us bring you more valuable content. For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit: https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel-building-coaching-cultures-empowerment-leadership-trust

In this episode of our A Day in the Life series, host Maxine Bell interviews new coaches and life partners Amanda Pennington and Chris Bibbo. They share their journeys into coaching after long careers in the nonprofit sector and reflect on how coaching supported them through major life transitions, including a bold move from the USA to Portugal. The conversation offers an honest, inspiring look at how coaching helped them navigate uncertainty, personal change, and professional reinvention. Amanda and Chris also speak candidly about the realities of building a coaching practice, from attracting clients to hosting their first live offering, the Life Blueprint Workshop, where they found immense joy witnessing their clients' breakthroughs. They explore the emotional heart of coaching, emphasizing self-awareness, courage and compassion to help clients find purpose and meaning in their lives. Their story highlights how coaching is not only a professional path but a powerful tool for resilience, growth, and meaningful connection — for both clients and coaches. Amanda and Chris's warmth and passion for coaching will encourage new coaches, enthuse experienced coaches and ignite those of you looking for authentic, meaningful coaching. You will learn: · Coaching is an impactful, supportive tool for courage and resilience in life transitions. · Building a coaching business requires persistence, experimentation, and a willingness to learn through doing. · How coaching assists, us to listen to our courageous hearts, and not just our 'monkey minds.' 'Seeing a client's life open up brings me so much life. It's an honour and a privilege to be part of that.' Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review! Your feedback helps us bring you more valuable content. For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit: https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel_day-in-the-life-of-coaches-new-coaches-transitions-growth

Join host Rob Lawrence, for a special, inspiring episode where we bring back all six hosts from our 2025 podcast series to share their incredible journeys. This heartfelt conversation dives into their experiences, insights, professional and personal growth, as well as the ripple effects of stepping outside their comfort zones to share their passions. Our 2025 episodes covered diverse yet deeply connected and important topics, including: · Self-Awareness: Insightful Tools for Growth: Explore a range of self-awareness tools for growth. · Coaching for Good: Innovative coaching that transforms lives by working for social good. · Coach as a Leader: How coaches inspire and equip leaders to apply coaching mindsets and skills. · Supervision Uncovered: Explores the impact of supervision on coach development, skills and wellbeing. · Neurodiversity in the Workplace: Hear real stories, insights, and strategies to build truly inclusive work environments that benefit everyone. · Love in Coaching: The impact of consciously bringing love into your coaching practice. This conversation warmly celebrates collaboration, diversity, innovation, and the power of sharing stories to inspire positive change and development within coaching and the wider individuals and systems it impacts. Listen to reflect, be encouraged and maybe inspired to reach out to us with your own podcast series idea and contribute to future conversations: enquiries@associationforcoaching.com "Just do it. The excitement might feel like fear, but hosting has been such a thrill and a joy for me". Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review! Your feedback helps us bring you more valuable content. For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit: https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel_insights-reflections-hosts-2025

In this solo closing episode of the Love in Coaching series, Helena Clayton weaves together the key themes from previous conversations, reflecting on how coaching is evolving beyond performance-driven outcomes towards deeper, more human-centred practice. She explores the importance of coaches doing their own inner work — developing self-awareness and understanding how personal histories and relationships with love shape the way we coach. Helena considers the ethical and relational implications of bringing love into coaching, including flexible contracting, empathy, and the courage required to work more boldly in organisational contexts. She also reflects on gender dynamics, particularly the role of men supporting men in this work and invites coaches to consider whether explicitly naming love is necessary — or whether it can be embodied through practice. The episode widens the lens to include broader social, global, and spiritual perspectives, highlighting love's connection to meaning and presence in coaching. The episode concludes with practical reflections on how love can be embodied through care, deep listening, and acceptance, alongside book, podcast, and workshop recommendations and an invitation for listener engagement — affirming love's growing significance in coaching practice and the wider world. You will learn · How coaching has evolved from performance focused to deeper explorations of identity, meaning and human connection and why love is involved · Why coach's self-awareness and inner work are essential to understanding how love shows up in practice · Bringing love into coaching requires ethical courage, relational sensitivity and awareness of wider social and spiritual contexts "I have a feeling that conversations about love are the most important ones to be having right now." Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review! Your feedback helps us bring you more valuable content. For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit: https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel-love-in-coaching-love-matters-leadership

In this episode, our host Helena Clayton is joined by coach, supervisor and coach trainer, Ian Mitchell for a rich and thoughtful conversation about the place of love in coaching. Ian shares his journey from the financial sector into coaching and supervision, alongside insights from his research into spirituality and love in leadership. Together, they explore what it means to bring love, intimacy, and tenderness consciously into coaching relationships, and why these qualities matter in work with leaders and coaches, particularly in our troubled world where the desire for meaning and purpose, over performance is growing. The discussion centres on the lived experience of coaching rather than technique — highlighting mutuality between coach and client, the courage required to stay present with vulnerability, and the role of porous boundaries in enabling genuine human connection. Drawing on influences such as Martin Buber, adult development theory, and therapeutic perspectives, Helena and Ian reflect on how a coach's inner world, reflexivity, and willingness to engage with shadow shape the depth and impact of coaching conversations. You will learn: · The role of love, intimacy, and tenderness in shaping our coaching stance · How love is expressed through a coach's action logics and developmental capacity · About mutuality between coach and client and establishing porous boundaries 'For me, a revolution of tenderness would be great in the work that we do.' Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review! Your feedback helps us bring you more valuable content. For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit: https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel-love-in-coaching-adultdevelopment-tenderness-intimacy

In episode four of our Love in Coaching series, host Helena Clayton speaks with veteran coach and educator Aboodi Shabi about love and spirituality in coaching. They explore how the profession has evolved from a performance-driven model to one that embraces the full depth of human experience. Aboodi shares why love—expressed as compassion, presence, and genuine care—is central to transformative coaching in the current world we live in, and how spirituality can provide grounding and insight for both coach and client. He also discusses the courage required to bring these themes into organizational contexts that often focus more on productivity than humanity. Aboodi emphasizes the importance of coaches doing their own inner work, humility and holding space for clients' full selves. Helena and Aboodi examine the importance of vulnerability, creating space for silence and stillness, and embracing diversity and inclusion in practice. They also contrast human coaching with AI-driven models, highlighting that authentic presence and heartfelt connection remain irreplaceable. This episode offers inspiration and practical insight for coaches seeking to integrate love, spirituality, and deeper human awareness into their work. You will learn: · Why love is foundational to modern coaching · Why coaches' own inner work is essential to enable them to hold an authentic, healthy presence and meaningful engagement with clients · How it is possible to bring love and spirituality into organizational contexts 'We all learn to harden our hearts to deal with the world, and it costs us connection and love.' Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review! Your feedback helps us bring you more valuable content. For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit: https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel-love-in-coaching-spirituality-love-presence

In this episode, host Helena Clayton is joined by the founder of Mobius Executive Leadership, Amy Elizabeth Fox to explore the field of trauma-informed coaching, vertical development, and the urgency of doing deep inner healing work with senior leaders. As organizations face greater volatility and complexity, Amy reflects on the role of emotional and spiritual development both in the maturation path for coaches and practitioners as well as in the development journey for leaders. They delve into how understanding trauma, building emotional literacy, and developing presence can fundamentally shift the culture of leadership and organizations. With insights from decades of integrating psycho-spiritual development into executive work, Amy explains why examining and healing trauma is no longer optional for modern executives who want to create impact, and how coaches must do their own inner work to serve with integrity and impact. They explore the specific practices for expressing love in the workplace and how the qualities of tenderness, candour, and wholeheartedness can transform leaders and teams. Amy discusses the power of collective healing, the importance of practitioner communities, and the role of authentic story work in building trust and intimacy in organizations. From understanding trauma at an individual and systemic level to expressing love in practical, grounded ways, this episode is a guide to cultivating the transformational capabilities needed to lead in a complex world. You will learn · The importance of trauma literacy for coaches and facilitators · The need to undertake healing in group contexts not just private therapy · The relevance of vertical development in a less predictable volatile world 'I have a strong conviction that the level of emotional immaturity and regression from which most leaders are operating is a sort of invisible pandemic.' Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review! Your feedback helps us bring you more valuable content. For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit: https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel-love-in-coaching-leadership-vertical-development-trauma

What if the real turning point for male leaders isn't more strategy—but more love, presence, and emotional courage? In this powerful episode, leadership coach and host Helena Clayton talks with high-performance coach and men's mentor Craig White, whose work guides successful men —especially those in their 40s and 50s—towards deeper emotional connection, self-acceptance, and authentic leadership. Craig explores why many men feel disconnected from themselves, and their emotional lives and relationships, and how balancing masculine and feminine energies can dramatically expand a man's capacity to lead, relate, and thrive. Craig opens up about his own transformative journey and shares the somatic, holistic practices at the core of his coaching, helping men shift from "head to heart" and reclaim relational presence. The conversation dives into the role of love in men's development, reframing love not as softness, but as a powerful polarity—presence, connection, trust, playfulness, celebration, and accountability and firmness. Helena and Craig explore the value of men-only spaces, the necessity of vulnerability in leadership, and the profound impact of embodied practice on emotional expression. This episode is an invitation for male leaders—and those who coach or support them—to consider how love, in its grounded and courageous form, can fuel personal transformation and more human, impactful leadership in organisations. You will learn: · Why male leaders are discovering that success isn't enough · The importance of somatic coaching practices in helping men shift from head to heart. · How holistic inner work, balancing masculine and feminine energies, creates better leaders and healthy masculinity "If a man loves who he is, if he is kind to himself, if he accepts himself, then he will be like that in relationship to others." Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review! Your feedback helps us bring you more valuable content. For the episode resources and guest bio, please visit: https://www.associationforcoaching.com/page/dl-hub_podcast-channel-love-in-coaching-male-leaders-emotional-presence