STaR Coach Show

In today’s episode, you’ll hear one of the most compelling life stories I’ve ever heard. As we celebrate 10 years of the STaR Coach Show, I’ve looked back over some of the guests who brought something truly special to the show in the early years, and Andrew Bennett definitely fits the bill. He joins me for a third appearance on the show, and I can’t wait to share this conversation with you. Our focus is on the shift Andrew has made to zero in on individual development and living a purposeful life. You’ll gain insights into your inner work, along with practical tools to implement immediately with your coaching clients. Join us for this uplifting and inspiring conversation!Andrew Bennett is a coach, professor, keynote speaker, and the founder and president of Bennett Performance Group. He’s also a lifelong magician, performing and perfecting magic tricks since the age of seven. A unique mix of business and life experiences has given Andrew valuable insight and compassion, enabling him to facilitate profound transformation in people and companies. As a longtime consultant and executive coach, he has been involved in nearly 40 major culture revitalization projects, creating customized solutions for lasting results. With the perspective that magic is the art of transformation, Andrew uses it to teach people how to rethink possibilities and obstacles, opening the door to new ways of thinking and acting. He teaches managers and leaders how to create environments where innovation, resilience, and capacity for change thrive. Show Highlights:Andrew’s inspiration for his transformation: A shift from organizational to individual developmentAndrew’s story: Enduring much loss in life brings a unique awareness of the “preciousness of life.”Andrew’s new book (Coming in 2027!): A focus on the profound value of sharing your humanity with others.Words of wisdom from Andrew about the inner work we can do to find our life’s purposeMagic: The one constant in Andrew’s life since age 7 that became a useful tool in adulthoodThe framework of the three acts of magic: Appear, disappear, and restore (How this principle became the framework of Andrew’s life and work)The most important lessons around “appear, disappear, and restore” can help us make the most out of the precious gift of life.“Saying NO is easier when we have a deeper YES.”Andrew’s perspective on writing a transformational memoir: Being vulnerable in sharing your story isn’t scary when you sincerely want to help others and make a meaningful impact with your life. A key message from Andrew: “Appreciate this gift of life. Your life is important, and you are here to help raise others up. You are precious, valuable, and good.”Resources:Connect with Andrew BennettWebsite and FacebookAndrew’s previous appearances: STaR Coach Show Episodes 118 and 142Connect with MegExplore the STaR Coach Show Mentor Program. We are enrolling NOW for this fall!Subscribe to the STaR Coach Show YouTube Channel!Explore over 480 past episodes and other helpful resources at www.STaRcoachshow.com. Mentioned in this episode:Enroll More Clients: Clarity SprintDo you love coaching, but when it comes to enrolling clients, writing your bio, or posting online, you freeze? Or fall into “coach speak” that doesn’t actually connect? That’s not a you problem. It’s a messaging problem—and it’s costing you clients. Join me for my free, live five-day experience: Enroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint. From March 16–20 at 9 a.m. Central, I’ll help you get crystal clear on your ideal client, refine your message so it actually resonates, and create a confidence statement that makes booking a call the obvious next step. No fluff, just clarity, you can use immediately. Grab your free spot at: https://starcoachshow.com/5dayEnroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint

In this lively and inspiring episode, you’ll hear our guest’s remarkable journey from the theater stage to the executive boardroom. Her career has been a winding path of rich, creative experiences, culminating in three decades of improvisation training that has become the unexpected backbone of her coaching philosophy. You’ll learn why the rules of improv are the rules of great coaching and what it means to say “yes, and” to every dimension of yourself. Join us!Ricci Mann Victorio is a Master Certified Coach and the president and co-founder of Victorio Counseling. She has spent more than three decades guiding leaders, entrepreneurs, and family businesses through complex transitions of leadership and life. Her work focuses on helping individuals navigate change and discover new possibilities, an insight that deeply informs the transformational themes at the heart of her fiction. Before executive coaching, Ricci worked as an improvisational comedian, director, and creative facilitator. She has written “The Guardian of the Faewild,” a philosophical fantasy series that explores transformation, courage, and the unexpected paths of becoming. When she’s not writing, Ricci continues her work as a leadership and succession coach while enjoying her wildly creative family and two young grandkids. Show Highlights:Ricci’s unconventional career journey: aspiring clown, actor, director, writer, choreographer, and transformation coachLearning to coach organically—before she even became a coachRicci’s story of finding her tribe in an intensely emotional experience“How can leaning into improvisation affect how I show up as a coach?”A perfect alignment of improvisation skills and coaching techniques: being present, being comfortable with not knowing, learning to integrate and give back, learning to respond and be with, and using “yes, and.”The five golden rules of improv (AND core coaching skills):Use the “yes, and” approach.Start in the middle.Don’t ask questions.Do—don’t tell.Stay in the moment.Using “Yes, and” in team and business settingsUnderstanding that leading with improv isn’t easy, it takes training and skilled practice.Key takeaways from Ricci: “It’s easy to feel that we only get to choose one aspect of ourselves, but what makes us unique is the ‘all-of-ness’ of ourselves. Be all of you. Say YES.”Resources:Connect with Ricci VictorioCoaching Website, Book Website, Facebook (Coaching), and Facebook (Books)Connect with MegExplore the STaR Coach Show Mentor Program. We are enrolling NOW for this summer!Subscribe to the STaR Coach Show YouTube Channel!Explore over 480 past episodes and other helpful resources at www.STaRcoachshow.com. Mentioned in this episode:Enroll More Clients: Clarity SprintDo you love coaching, but when it comes to enrolling clients, writing your bio, or posting online, you freeze? Or fall into “coach speak” that doesn’t actually connect? That’s not a you problem. It’s a messaging problem—and it’s costing you clients. Join me for my free, live five-day experience: Enroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint. From March 16–20 at 9 a.m. Central, I’ll help you get crystal clear on your ideal client, refine your message so it actually resonates, and create a confidence statement that makes booking a call the obvious next step. No fluff, just clarity, you can use immediately. Grab your free spot at: https://starcoachshow.com/5dayEnroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint

In this rich and inspiring conversation, Meg Rentschler welcomes Dr. Marcia Reynolds back to the show. A pioneer in the coaching industry and four-time guest, she discusses the newly released second edition of her landmark book, Coach the Person, Not the Problem. The conversation unpacks what drove the revision, her evolution as a coach and researcher, and a profound framework for what truly separates transformational coaching from transactional coaching. From identity coaching to the energetics of presence, this episode is a masterclass in what it means to coach at the deepest level. Join us!Dr. Marcia Reynolds, president of Covisioning LLC, is passionate about researching, writing about, and teaching people around the world how to engage in powerful conversations that connect, influence, and activate change. She was the 5th global president of the International Coaching Federation and was inducted into their Circle of Distinction for her many years of service to the global coaching community. Global Gurus recognize her as one of the top ten coaches in the world. She is the creator of the renowned WBECS program and Breakthrough Coaching, and a Master Certified Neuroplastician. Show Highlights:Reasons behind a second edition of Marcia’s book, Coach the Person, Not the ProblemCoaching mastery is a path and a journey–not a destination.The difference between transformational coaching and transactional coachingBuilding your “curiosity” muscle vs. your “tell” muscleThe neuroscience of coaching, based on decades of adult learning researchUnderstanding the hidden places where you are judging others as “not as smart” as you areLetting go of “knowing” to be curious, present, and relentless with compassionLearning to be the coach who “takes it to the next level”Dr. Marcia’s key takeaway for listeners: “Presence is more than paying attention. The deeper we go with our full-body, open, vulnerable presence, the more powerful we are.”Resources:Connect with Dr. Marcia ReynoldsWebsite, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Coach the Person, Not the Problem Dr. Marcia’s other SCS episodes: Ep. 40-Emotional Intelligence in Coaching, Ep. 329-Coach the Person, Not the Problem, and Ep. 374-Breakthrough CoachingConnect with MegExplore the STaR Coach Show Mentor Program. We are enrolling NOW for this summer!Subscribe to the STaR Coach Show YouTube Channel!Explore over 480 past episodes and other helpful resources at www.STaRcoachshow.com. Mentioned in this episode:Enroll More Clients: Clarity SprintDo you love coaching, but when it comes to enrolling clients, writing your bio, or posting online, you freeze? Or fall into “coach speak” that doesn’t actually connect? That’s not a you problem. It’s a messaging problem—and it’s costing you clients. Join me for my free, live five-day experience: Enroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint. From March 16–20 at 9 a.m. Central, I’ll help you get crystal clear on your ideal client, refine your message so it actually resonates, and create a confidence statement that makes booking a call the obvious next step. No fluff, just clarity, you can use immediately. Grab your free spot at: https://starcoachshow.com/5dayEnroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint

AI is all around us! Is it a threat or an opportunity? How do coaches make sure to stay in the driver’s seat and engage with AI in an ethical, yet productive way? The bottom line is that AI can serve as a powerful multiplier for coaches—not a replacement for them. You’ll learn how today’s guest leverages the power of AI in various ways to organize his life’s work and enhance client deliverables. His enthusiasm for AI is balanced by practical caution, emphasizing that the coach must always be the one “driving the bus.” Join us to learn more!Ron J. West is an executive coach and the founder of West Executive. For more than two decades, he has worked with senior leaders navigating complexity and change. He is the creator of the Chrysalis ecosystem, which comprises leadership experiences built around a simple idea: when leaders expand how they think and lead, the organizations and systems they serve can also evolve. Ron is a repeat guest on the STaR Coach Show, and we’re thrilled to visit with him again!Show Highlights:AI as a useful thought partner–not a replacement for coachesRon’s brainchild project: building a captured/private GPT of his body of work of 600+ artifacts (the Chrysalis AI Portal)Establishing guardrails to keep AI private and controlled (I.e., captured–as opposed to “set free” on the internet)Using Chrysalis as a practitioner with clear guidelines and purpose (“What am I trying to achieve?”)When using AI, remember who is “driving the bus”!Examples from Ron and Meg of using AI in the coaching processAI cannot replace the human aspect of coaching—in meeting people where they are.Compiling a database with the help of AI to build your legacyExamples of infographics and other resources created by AIRon’s advice to coaches about harnessing the power of AI: “Just experiment. Enjoy the journey!”Resources:Connect with Ron WestLinkedIn and ChrysalisConnect with MegExplore the STaR Coach Show Mentor Program. We are enrolling NOW for this summer!Subscribe to the STaR Coach Show YouTube Channel!Explore over 480 past episodes and other helpful resources at www.STaRcoachshow.com.Mentioned in this episode:Enroll More Clients: Clarity SprintDo you love coaching, but when it comes to enrolling clients, writing your bio, or posting online, you freeze? Or fall into “coach speak” that doesn’t actually connect? That’s not a you problem. It’s a messaging problem—and it’s costing you clients. Join me for my free, live five-day experience: Enroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint. From March 16–20 at 9 a.m. Central, I’ll help you get crystal clear on your ideal client, refine your message so it actually resonates, and create a confidence statement that makes booking a call the obvious next step. No fluff, just clarity, you can use immediately. Grab your free spot at: https://starcoachshow.com/5dayEnroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint

In this solo episode, Meg opens with a candid confession about her early coaching tendency to rescue and solve, and she uses it as a springboard into one of the deepest conversations in her coaching philosophy: the discipline of restraint. Drawing on decades of coaching and mentoring more than 2,000 coaches, Meg explores what it truly means to stay in wonder rather than knowing, to harvest before you plant, and to hold every offering with open hands. This episode is an invitation to coaches at every stage to examine where they may be shortcutting client transformation—and how to stop.Show Highlights:My confession about the Rescuer in meThe coach who robs their client with their knowing: Learn what it looks like.The neuroscience behind the struggle to create meaning, ownership, and the Aha experience (The journey is where transformation lives.)What it means to stay in wonder rather than knowing (It’s the difference between a coach who’s waiting for their turn to speak and a coach who is genuinely present to what’s unfolding.)The art of coaching is the art of getting out of the way. (Being helpful is not the same as being transformative.)Questioning to create an invitation instead of presuming the answerA coach’s most powerful tool: helping the client examine what they believe to be trueUnderstanding the coach’s role in dealing with blocks AND openings (Learn to expand the lens.)The “harvest before you plant” metaphor as it applies to coaching (The coach must fully receive before offering something.)A strong attachment to our offering harms the coaching process and makes it “all about us.”Understanding partnership as fundamental equalityThe differences between a coach-driven session and a client-driven session5 practices to try:Notice your impulses to share.Ask one more open question before you offer anything.Harvest before every plant.Practice the language of non-attachment.Fall in love with the pause. (Silence is beautiful—not a failure.)Continue to cultivate the habit of wonder.Resources:Connect with MegExplore the STaR Coach Show Mentor Program. We are enrolling NOW for this summer!Subscribe to the STaR Coach Show YouTube Channel!Explore over 480 past episodes and other helpful resources at www.STaRcoachshow.com.Mentioned in this episode:Enroll More Clients: Clarity SprintDo you love coaching, but when it comes to enrolling clients, writing your bio, or posting online, you freeze? Or fall into “coach speak” that doesn’t actually connect? That’s not a you problem. It’s a messaging problem—and it’s costing you clients. Join me for my free, live five-day experience: Enroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint. From March 16–20 at 9 a.m. Central, I’ll help you get crystal clear on your ideal client, refine your message so it actually resonates, and create a confidence statement that makes booking a call the obvious next step. No fluff, just clarity, you can use immediately. Grab your free spot at: https://starcoachshow.com/5dayEnroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint

The fundamental truth is that who you are is how you coach. That’s the principle that we are unpacking in today’s episode. Today’s guest opens up about her personal experience with neurodivergence, chronic illness, and burnout as a model to demonstrate how to show up whole and lead by example as a coach. We dig into the multi-layered responsibilities coaches have to their clients, their profession, and the world. This conversation will stretch you—in the very best way. Join us now!Katerina Kanelidou, MCC, is a leadership and team coach with 30 years of experience coaching, training, mentoring, and providing therapy with teams, groups, and individuals. In 2020, she co-founded the Team Coaching Global Alliance. She works with leaders and business owners worldwide, supporting them in creating healthy, high-value workplaces and fostering positive, sustainable change. Katerina is a recognized coaching authority, a frequent guest speaker at international conferences and events, and has served in various leadership roles within the ICF at both global and regional levels. She is a co-author of Becoming a Team Coach: The Essential ICF Guide, published in 2025. Show Highlights:Katerina’s book, “The Encyclopedia of Team Coaching” (You need this book!)The neurodivergent mind is “like a web of thoughts.”Katerina’s explanation of the statement, “Who you are is how you coach.”The coach’s multi-layered responsibility to lead by example and “show up.”Viewing coaching supervision as a professional responsibilityApplying the diversity iceberg model Learning to say NO springs from values alignment (“Just because I can doesn’t mean I should.”)The coach’s understanding of neurodivergence, disability, and transparencyCoaching is not therapy.Individual vs. team coachingKnowing the differences in coaching, consulting, and trainingTeam coaching is pure coaching.Katerina’s key takeaway from today’s conversationResources:Connect with Katerina KanelidouWebsite, LinkedIn, and Becoming a Team Coach: The Essential ICF Guide Connect with MegExplore the STaR Coach Show Mentor Program. We are enrolling NOW for this summer!Subscribe to the STaR Coach Show YouTube Channel!Explore over 480 past episodes and other helpful resources at www.STaRcoachshow.com. Mentioned in this episode:Enroll More Clients: Clarity SprintDo you love coaching, but when it comes to enrolling clients, writing your bio, or posting online, you freeze? Or fall into “coach speak” that doesn’t actually connect? That’s not a you problem. It’s a messaging problem—and it’s costing you clients. Join me for my free, live five-day experience: Enroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint. From March 16–20 at 9 a.m. Central, I’ll help you get crystal clear on your ideal client, refine your message so it actually resonates, and create a confidence statement that makes booking a call the obvious next step. No fluff, just clarity, you can use immediately. Grab your free spot at: https://starcoachshow.com/5dayEnroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint

This episode could change the way you think about boundaries, pricing, and what’s actually possible in your coaching practice. You’ll hear from a married couple regarding their initial resistance to working together, establishing healthy boundaries, defining roles and responsibilities, and the critical importance of pricing yourself correctly. My guests offer practical wisdom on maintaining work-life balance, protecting personal time, and thriving in both marriage and business through intentional communication and mutual respect. What have they learned that could help YOU, whether you work with your spouse or not? Join us to find out!Robert and Kay Lee Fukui are the co-founders of i61 Inc., a business consulting company that helps married entrepreneurs achieve better work-life balance by structuring their businesses for scalability, while also freeing up precious time to invest in their marriages and families.Robert has 25 years of successful sales and marketing experience with companies like Coca-Cola, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, and Bristol-Myers Squibb. He played an instrumental role in launching six major brands and is the recipient of national sales and leadership awards. His business acumen allows him to help family businesses become more profitable, efficient, and sustainable. Kay worked in the banking industry for many years and in her family business as the operationsmanager for 10 years before meeting Robert, the love of her life. She understands the highs and lows of running a family business and the sacrifices owners make–often at the expense of marriage and family. Her passion is to see marriages flourish while building a profitable business and to help entrepreneurial couples understand that marriages and families don’t have to be sacrificed for business. Together, they have developed an innovative consulting program, Thriving in Tandem™, which equips the married entrepreneur to build a thriving marriage AND a prosperous business. They have authored the book Tandem: The Married Entrepreneurs' Guide for Greater Work-Life Balance and host the podcast Thriving in Tandem.Show Highlights:Working together with your spouse ALL the time: Can that really work?Time management, boundaries, and defining your lane of geniusFreeing up time through ADE: automate, delegate, and eliminateSetting priorities and learning to say NOKay Lee’s mindset as a third-generation entrepreneur who is learning to be more efficientEmbracing change, intentional communication, and learning to pivotSet up a structure so you don’t overextend yourself. (Your boundaries deserve to be honored!)When you are with your family, BE with your family.The ONE business decision that will make more money and give you time back: raise your pricesKey takeaways from Robert and Kay Lee:Robert: “If it feels like your business is running you instead of you running your business, fix it. Step back and evaluate.”Kay Lee: “Are you working in your zone of genius? If not, how can you do that? Do more of what you love!”Resources:Connect with Robert and Kay Lee FukuiWebsite (Find your free gift!), Tandem: The Married Entrepreneurs' Guide for Greater Work-Life Balance, Thriving in Tandem podcast, Facebook, InstagramConnect with MegExplore the STaR Coach Show Mentor Program. We are enrolling NOW for this summer!Subscribe to the STaR Coach Show YouTube Channel!Explore over 480 past episodes and other helpful resources at www.STaRcoachshow.com.Mentioned in this episode:Enroll More Clients: Clarity SprintDo you love coaching, but when it comes to enrolling clients, writing your bio, or posting online, you freeze? Or fall into “coach speak” that doesn’t actually connect? That’s not a you problem. It’s a messaging problem—and it’s costing you clients. Join me for my free, live five-day experience: Enroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint. From March 16–20 at 9 a.m. Central, I’ll help you get crystal clear on your ideal client, refine your message so it actually resonates, and create a confidence statement that makes booking a call the obvious next step. No fluff, just clarity, you can use immediately. Grab your free spot at: https://starcoachshow.com/5dayEnroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint

“Making sense out of chaos” is something we all want to do better. Today’s guest has discovered the secret sauce. In this episode, she unpacks how coaches and organizational leaders can measure what feels unmeasurable, create genuinely inclusive environments, and build healthier cultures by identifying the invisible programming running beneath the surface of any team or organization. We will explore three interconnected themes: demonstrating coaching ROI through powerful questioning, supporting employees with invisible disabilities through language and environmental design, and debugging the hidden “programs” that drive organizational chaos. This episode is practical, warm, and wisdom-packed—a must-listen for coaches, consultants, and leaders alike. Kristy Busija is the CEO and founder of Next Conversation Consulting, a firm specializing in making sense out of chaos for organizations and leaders. She is a certified professional coach (mentored by Meg Rentschler), Forbes contributor, award-winning business owner, and the bestselling co-author of Hidden in Plain Sight: A Practical Guide to Managing Invisible Disabilities in the Workplace. Kristy brings expertise in corporate leadership, talent development, consulting, and neurodiversity-informed coaching. She is also a speaker who creates intentionally inclusive learning environments in her presentations. Show Highlights:Where we begin in making the invisible, visible: The foundation of measurable ROI starts with asking the right questions.Trusting the process through the journey with a clientUnderstanding “invisible disabilities” in the workplaceExamples of Kristy’s expertise in opening a presentation by engaging with the audience and setting the stage for successChanging the language around invisible disabilities begins with debugging our invisible programming. (The cost of not providing support is much higher than you think!)Helping organizations lean into a coaching culture with the three Ps framework: identify patterns, priorities, and purpose.A closer look at Kristy’s work with leaders around shifting perspectivesKristy’s key takeaway: “Don’t just coach the person, but think about the whole system.”Resources:Connect with Kristy Busija: Website and book, Hidden in Plain Sight: A Practical Guide to Managing Invisible Disabilities in the Workplace.Schedule an exploratory session with Kristy here.Connect with Meg:Explore the STaR Coach Show Mentor Program. We are enrolling NOW for this summer!Subscribe to the STaR Coach Show YouTube Channel!Explore over 480 past episodes and other helpful resources at www.STaRcoachshow.com. Explore the STaR Coach Community and see what’s available there for you!Mentioned in this episode:Enroll More Clients: Clarity SprintDo you love coaching, but when it comes to enrolling clients, writing your bio, or posting online, you freeze? Or fall into “coach speak” that doesn’t actually connect? That’s not a you problem. It’s a messaging problem—and it’s costing you clients. Join me for my free, live five-day experience: Enroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint. From March 16–20 at 9 a.m. Central, I’ll help you get crystal clear on your ideal client, refine your message so it actually resonates, and create a confidence statement that makes booking a call the obvious next step. No fluff, just clarity, you can use immediately. Grab your free spot at: https://starcoachshow.com/5dayEnroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint

In this solo episode, Meg Rentschler pulls back the curtain on the real challenges coaches face when building their businesses. She reveals what actually works and the most common mistakes that trip coaches up. Drawing on ICF industry data, small business research, and over 40 years of experience, Meg walks through the six most common struggles coaches encounter, including inconsistent client flow, isolation, pricing, and more. She offers six concrete, research-based strategies to position yourself for success. Meg makes a passionate case for community and mentorship as the biggest differentiators in a coach’s long-term sustainability. Join us!Show Highlights:The good news about our booming coaching industry (Hear the facts!)The market wants coaching, but we have to know how to position ourselves for success and sustainability.Building a sustainable coaching practice is challenging because business-building skills differ significantly from coach training.Six common struggles for coaches:Consistently attracting the right clients (“Hope marketing” doesn’t scale.)Niching down (Niche-focused coaches grow their businesses 30% faster!)Pricing with confidence (It’s a mindset and self-worth issue.)A feast-or-famine cycle (This happens because systems and structures aren’t in place to keep the pipeline moving.)The isolation factor (Most coaches are solo-preneurs who work from home.)Wearing too many hats without the right skills (The gap between our genius work and all the other tasks creates overwhelm, avoidance, and stagnation.)What works to give us a leg up in the coaching field:Get crystal clear on who you serve and what you help them with.Build visibility–not just presence.Learn how to have enrollment conversations.Create systems, and create them early.Invest in your own development.Pursue your ICF credential.Understand the benefits of community and mentorship: accountability, encouragement, referral partners, and the irreplaceable experience of being with people who “get it.”Examples from the STaR Coach Community members about the difference a coaching community makesMeg’s challenge for you this weekUnderstand the bottom line for your coaching career.Resources:Connect with Meg:Sign up here for the ENROLL MORE CLIENTS 5 DAY CHALLENGE!Explore the STaR Coach Show Mentor Program. We are enrolling NOW for this summer!Subscribe to the STaR Coach Show YouTube Channel!Explore over 480 past episodes and other helpful resources at www.STaRcoachshow.com.Explore the STaR Coach Community and see what’s available there for you!Mentioned in this episode:Enroll More Clients: Clarity SprintDo you love coaching, but when it comes to enrolling clients, writing your bio, or posting online, you freeze? Or fall into “coach speak” that doesn’t actually connect? That’s not a you problem. It’s a messaging problem—and it’s costing you clients. Join me for my free, live five-day experience: Enroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint. From March 16–20 at 9 a.m. Central, I’ll help you get crystal clear on your ideal client, refine your message so it actually resonates, and create a confidence statement that makes booking a call the obvious next step. No fluff, just clarity, you can use immediately. Grab your free spot at: https://starcoachshow.com/5dayEnroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint

Have you ever realized that you’re living someone else’s dream instead of your own? Today’s guest walked away from a lucrative five-figure salary in the luxury yachting industry to create a scalable coaching business that generates six figures, from working just 15 hours per week. You’ll learn her proven frameworks for building simple, scalable businesses using strategic social media, ideal client positioning, and her signature approach that helps coaches and entrepreneurs create profitable businesses aligned with their dream lifestyles. Join us to learn more!Sara Vezensek grew up in Slovenia, a place where the world of luxury yachts was something only seen in movies. By her early 20s, she had already immersed herself in that world, working as a private chef on superyachts, flying in private jets, managing million-dollar deals, and earning $15,000 per month. From the outside, it looked like a dream lifestyle, but she felt trapped. She was constantly on call and felt completely disconnected from her own freedom and purpose. Now, Sara is an online business coach and mentor who helps ambitious women turn their lived experiences into profitable, freedom-based businesses. She is known for helping her clients package their brilliance into high-impact offers, shift their money mindsets, and finally stop trading time for money. Sara is bold, real, and passionate about helping women build businesses that support the lives they want.Show Highlights:Sara’s unconventional rise: How grit and determination opened doors to working in the luxury yacht industrySteps Sara took to fulfill her passion:Mindset shiftsAligned actionsDetermination to be THE best at her job and go above and beyond in every wayThe “golden handcuffs” of living someone else’s life and having the courage to walk away from something greatSara’s “big enough” WHY that offered “funds and freedom.”The “triangle of idea” framework: passion, problem-solving, and profitUsing social media as a strategic business tool, not for influenceHow Sara uses her Instagram account to help people feel seen, heard, and understoodGet clear about your ideal client. Use the “movie script” method.Understand how to close sales leads.Stop being busy; start being profitable.Sara’s big wins as a small business owner:Believing and trusting in herselfFinding her voiceSimplifying and scaling her businessPositioning and pricing herself as an expertHighlights of Sara’s 15-hour work weekSara’s key takeaway: “Business CAN be simple and scalable.”Resources:Connect with Sara VezensekInstagram, She Thrives Podcast, and Free gifts for listeners: Million Dollar Course Idea and 100k in Sales in 1.5 MonthsConnect with MegSign up here for the ENROLL MORE CLIENTS 5 DAY CHALLENGE!Explore the STaR Coach Show Mentor Program. We are enrolling NOW for this summer!Subscribe to the STaR Coach Show YouTube Channel!Explore over 480 past episodes and other helpful resources at www.STaRcoachshow.com.Explore the STaR Coach Community and see what’s available there for you!Mentioned in this episode:Enroll More Clients: Clarity SprintDo you love coaching, but when it comes to enrolling clients, writing your bio, or posting online, you freeze? Or fall into “coach speak” that doesn’t actually connect? That’s not a you problem. It’s a messaging problem—and it’s costing you clients. Join me for my free, live five-day experience: Enroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint. From March 16–20 at 9 a.m. Central, I’ll help you get crystal clear on your ideal client, refine your message so it actually resonates, and create a confidence statement that makes booking a call the obvious next step. No fluff, just clarity, you can use immediately. Grab your free spot at: https://starcoachshow.com/5dayEnroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint

Today’s episode will change what you think about leadership and shift how you see yourself as a coach. We are exploring the framework of 3D, 4D, and 5D leadership, specifically how leaders can move from survival-mode stress (3D) through self-awareness (4D) to soul-aligned, vision-driven leadership (5D). You’ll also learn how my guest’s unique 7-7-7 retreat model helps high performers make lasting transformation. Join us!Grace Najean is a Korean-French-Australian leadership strategist, former Tony Robbins Master Coach, current PCC ICF coach, and founder of the Soulfluence Method ®. She helps high achievers align mind, body, and energy to lead with clarity, purpose, and magnetic presence. Her method brilliantly bridges and blends spiritual and scientific concepts in ways all leaders can embrace. The Soulfluence Awakening is a coaching model focusing on energy mastery and intuitive leadership, and The Soulfluence Retreat in Lombok, Indonesia, is an immersive reset for ambitious leaders.Show Highlights:The Soulfluence Method ® is based on the integration of spirituality and neuroscience.Understanding 3D, 4D, and 5D leadership:3D: Survival mode–driven by stress, pressure, materialism, and reactive behavior4D: Awakening mode–driven by self-awareness and emotional intelligence, but leaders may stay stuck in “the knowledge trap.”5D: Integration mode–where mind, body, and soul are aligned, and vision creates resultsBridging the gap to develop 5D leadershipThe value of 7-day retreats to bring transformation and align the mind, body, and soulUsing emotions as a GPSUnderstanding the coach’s role: shining the light and showing the way—not “saving” themKnowing what clients need vs. what clients wantThe 7-7-7 structure of Grace’s retreats and coaching offerings (7 days, 7 weeks, and 7 months)Making the transition from 3D to 4D to 5D leadership begins with self-awareness and self-leadership.Key takeaways from Grace about morning routines, including movement, breathing, gratitude, and visualizationsResources:Connect with Grace Najean: WebsiteConnect with Meg:Sign up here for the ENROLL MORE CLIENTS 5 DAY CHALLENGE!Explore the STaR Coach Show Mentor Program. We are enrolling NOW for this summer!Subscribe to the STaR Coach Show YouTube Channel!Explore over 480 past episodes and other helpful resources at www.STaRcoachshow.com.Explore the STaR Coach Community and see what’s available there for you!Mentioned in this episode:Enroll More Clients: Clarity SprintDo you love coaching, but when it comes to enrolling clients, writing your bio, or posting online, you freeze? Or fall into “coach speak” that doesn’t actually connect? That’s not a you problem. It’s a messaging problem—and it’s costing you clients. Join me for my free, live five-day experience: Enroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint. From March 16–20 at 9 a.m. Central, I’ll help you get crystal clear on your ideal client, refine your message so it actually resonates, and create a confidence statement that makes booking a call the obvious next step. No fluff, just clarity, you can use immediately. Grab your free spot at: https://starcoachshow.com/5dayEnroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint

We learn best when we are actively building and creating. Think Legos! All coaching is fundamentally play, and purposeful play transforms leadership development. Today’s guest is a certified hands-on thinking coach who brings Lego bricks into executive coaching sessions. He shares the neuroscience and learning theory behind why play isn’t frivolous but is essential for discovery, practice, and innovation. Learn how to integrate object play and constructionism into your coaching practice to help clients move from abstract thinking to concrete insights, particularly with neurodiverse populations and leaders who live too much in their heads. Are you ready to discover new techniques that might transform your work with your clients? Join us to learn more!Paul Sanbar is an Ingenuity + Leadership Coach, certified coach supervisor, and hands-on visual thinking facilitator. He has dedicated himself to the field of self-development and to effecting positive change through purposeful play, storytelling, and powerful conversations. He was a humanistic-Gestalt psychotherapist and is now an ICF-accredited Master Certified Coach, EMCC-accredited coach supervisor, and senior practitioner. Show Highlights:Play and coaching: How are they related?“Coaching gives clients a chance to suspend reality and just play.”Understanding “purposeful play” (also called “serious play”) in executive coaching, as it relates to how we played as children The value of attunement playConstructivism and constructionismPaul’s method of introducing object play into organizational coaching (Understanding the liminal space between “what is” and “what if”)Multi-modal learning helps us use multiple intelligences.Metaphors allow us to relate to and understand the world.Using Legos (and mini-figures) to build our thoughts and ascribe meaning to themThe hands-on thinking coach methodologyFeedback from coaches who are learning Paul’s play techniques as an enhancement to other coaching techniquesModern consequences of play deprivation—for kids and adultsThe truth: “We are all still kids.”Paul’s key takeaway about play methodologyResources:Connect with Paul SanbarLinktreeLinkedInConnect with Meg:Explore the STaR Coach Show Mentor Program. We are enrolling NOW for this spring!Subscribe to the STaR Coach Show YouTube Channel!Explore over 480 past episodes and other helpful resources at www.STaRcoachshow.com. Explore the STaR Coach Community and see what’s available there for you!Mentioned in this episode:Enroll More Clients: Clarity SprintDo you love coaching, but when it comes to enrolling clients, writing your bio, or posting online, you freeze? Or fall into “coach speak” that doesn’t actually connect? That’s not a you problem. It’s a messaging problem—and it’s costing you clients. Join me for my free, live five-day experience: Enroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint. From March 16–20 at 9 a.m. Central, I’ll help you get crystal clear on your ideal client, refine your message so it actually resonates, and create a confidence statement that makes booking a call the obvious next step. No fluff, just clarity, you can use immediately. Grab your free spot at: https://starcoachshow.com/5dayEnroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint

Trust is everything in the coach-client relationship. In this solo episode, Meg explores “The Trust Triangle,” a three-dimensional framework that reframes trust in coaching beyond simply the coach-client relationship. Drawing on client stories and 17+ years of teaching coaches, Meg breaks down the three interconnected dimensions of trust that determine whether coaching truly creates transformation: the relational trust between coach and client, the client’s trust in themselves, and the client’s trust in the coaching process. You’ll learn practical strategies for assessing, strengthening, and protecting each dimension, along with an understanding of how these strategies provide coaches with a powerful diagnostic tool when sessions feel stuck. Join us to learn more!Show Highlights:Understanding three dimensions of trust:The trust between coach and clientMutual respect and trust are built with presence, consistency, confidentiality, appropriate boundaries, and honest authenticity.Things that erode trust: breaking confidentiality, being inconsistent, focusing on our own needs, defensiveness, trying to fix or rescue a client, overfunctioningMeg’s tips for applying these principles to build trustThe client’s trust in themselvesFully stepping into the coaching process and moving from insight into action requires the client to trust themselves.Building self-trust in your client happens when they fully access their inner knowledge, hold space to celebrate micro-wins, reframe failures as data, and normalize the “messy middle.”Things that erode self-trust: a coach who gives advice, rescues a client from discomfort, and is too attached to the client’s successMeg’s tips for building the client’s self-trustTrust in the coaching processIt’s a challenge to leave our expertise at the door and let the client be the expert in their life.Building process-trust depends on how we set the stage with clear expectations, help create early wins, make the “invisible” become visible, and be transparent about the process.Things that erode a client’s trust in the process: meandering sessions, abstract/philosophical coaching full of promises that can’t be kept, and having no structure or clear coaching agreementMeg’s tips for building trust in the coaching process (Begin with a clear coaching agreement!)The trust triangle gives the coach a new perspective (a measuring stick) to explore and be curious about what’s going on with the client. Meg explains how to use the triangle as a diagnostic tool.Hear Meg’s practical strategies for leaning into each leg of the trust triangle through rapport-building, reflecting wisdom, and connecting insights to action.Today’s key takeaway: “Trust isn’t singular in coaching—it’s triangular. Your job is to pay attention to all three dimensions.”Resources:Mentioned in this episode: STaR Coach Show, Episode 124 and STaR Coach Show, Episode 131Connect with MegExplore the STaR Coach Show Mentor Program. We are enrolling NOW for this spring!Subscribe to the STaR Coach Show YouTube Channel!Explore over 480 past episodes and other helpful resources at www.STaRcoachshow.com.Explore the STaR Coach Community and see what’s available there for you!Mentioned in this episode:Enroll More Clients: Clarity SprintDo you love coaching, but when it comes to enrolling clients, writing your bio, or posting online, you freeze? Or fall into “coach speak” that doesn’t actually connect? That’s not a you problem. It’s a messaging problem—and it’s costing you clients. Join me for my free, live five-day experience: Enroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint. From March 16–20 at 9 a.m. Central, I’ll help you get crystal clear on your ideal client, refine your message so it actually resonates, and create a confidence statement that makes booking a call the obvious next step. No fluff, just clarity, you can use immediately. Grab your free spot at: https://starcoachshow.com/5dayEnroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint

Today’s conversation will transform your thinking about emotions. Instead of viewing emotions as negative experiences to push away or control, our guest helps us understand them as our body’s guidance system, much like a compass that helps us navigate. Fear and anger, often thought of as negative emotions, are the body’s survival mechanisms that are designed to protect our lives. You’ll discover practical insights on recognizing physical sensations, befriending your feelings, and using emotional intelligence to become a better coach and leader. Want to know more about relating to your own emotions and showing up as your best for your clients? Join us to learn more!Joie Seldon, MA, is the founder of the Emotional Evolution Institute and the author of Emotions: An Owner's Manual. An innovator in emotional intelligence, she is a life and professional success coach and EQ trainer. She has worked with clients at NASA, AT&T, Wells Fargo, Blue Shield, Dolby, and others. Her clients range from tech professionals and healthcare workers to C-suite executives. With 25 years of experience as an actor and acting teacher, 10 years as a somatic psychology therapist, and a lifetime of personal growth engagement, Joie has developed an innovative approach to teaching people how to release limiting behaviors and use their emotions as the powerful guidance system they are meant to be.Show Highlights:Misconceptions, judgments, and misunderstandings about emotionsGrowing the relationship with your emotions, especially fear and anger, by recognizing and tolerating the sensations you experienceOur feelings and thinking have to work together.The message of fear is “pay attention.”The results when people shift their perspective on emotionsDealing with emotions that arise in coaching conversationsUnderstanding the difference between stress tears and sad tearsThe value of taking private time to process your grief and effectively giving others space for their grief and discomfortA coach’s job is not to rescue or “fix”; everyone just wants to be seen and heard.Joie’s top “Aha moments” with clientsWhat coaches should understand about emotions being used as a compass“Emotions are energy in motion.” (Be curious about emotions.)Joie’s key takeaway for listeners: “Emotions are the link between the tangible and intangible. Pay attention to how you feel, and listen to what information emotions give you. Feeling your emotions will ultimately bring you more joy.”Resources:Connect with Joie SeldonWebsite, YouTube, and Emotions Owner's Manual (Kindle Edition)Connect with MegExplore the STaR Coach Show Mentor Program. We are enrolling NOW for this spring!Subscribe to the STaR Coach Show YouTube Channel!Explore past episodes and other resources at www.STaRcoachshow.com.Explore the STaR Coach Community and see what’s available there for you!Mentioned in this episode:Enroll More Clients: Clarity SprintDo you love coaching, but when it comes to enrolling clients, writing your bio, or posting online, you freeze? Or fall into “coach speak” that doesn’t actually connect? That’s not a you problem. It’s a messaging problem—and it’s costing you clients. Join me for my free, live five-day experience: Enroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint. From March 16–20 at 9 a.m. Central, I’ll help you get crystal clear on your ideal client, refine your message so it actually resonates, and create a confidence statement that makes booking a call the obvious next step. No fluff, just clarity, you can use immediately. Grab your free spot at: https://starcoachshow.com/5dayEnroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint

Today’s episode features a fascinating, transformational story of death–and a second chance at life. You’ll discover how purpose-driven leadership creates both personal fulfillment and organizational success. You’ll hear practical wisdom for leaders seeking significance over success and learn how generosity transforms leadership. This conversation will challenge your ideas about success, significance, and what truly matters in life, while also showing why having an “elevator person” might be the most important leadership skill you never learned in business school. Whatever your leadership role, this episode will motivate you to stop waiting and start living with real intention. Join us now!Bill Goodwin has over 30 years of leadership experience in developing individuals and teams, backed by proven leadership training and dynamic speaking for growth. As a Maxwell Leadership Executive Team Member, Bill is a speaker, leadership coach, and author. He is the founder of the Priority Living Consulting Group. His new book, Priority Living: 7 Pillars to Make Your Life Count, is derived from the backstory of Bill’s November 23, 1999, experience of acute respiratory failure. Being given a second chance has changed his life, and his wisdom could change yours, too.Show Highlights:The story of Bill’s death on November 23, 1999“How do I make my life count?” (Bill’s Priority Living Framework)An overview of Bill’s book, Priority Living7 Pillars to Make Your Life Count:Purpose–Turn your passion into impact.Growth–Be better today than you were yesterday.Impact–Do small things to create big waves.Rhythm–Build a life, not a schedule.Explore–Chase wonder and adventure.Connect–Relationships matter most.Give–The more you give, the more you grow. Live generously.People are hungry for professional development that invests in people.Bill’s gift to SCS listeners: a free chapter of his book (Click here.)Words of wisdom from Bill: “Be an ‘elevator person’ today.”Resources:Connect with Bill Goodwin: Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Priority Living: 7 Pillars to Make Your Life Count, and get a FREE CHAPTER of Bill’s book.Connect with MegExplore the STaR Coach Show Mentor Program. We are enrolling NOW for this spring!Subscribe to the STaR Coach Show YouTube Channel!Explore past episodes and other resources at www.STaRcoachshow.com.Explore the STaR Coach Community and see what’s available there for you!Mentioned in this episode:Enroll More Clients: Clarity SprintDo you love coaching, but when it comes to enrolling clients, writing your bio, or posting online, you freeze? Or fall into “coach speak” that doesn’t actually connect? That’s not a you problem. It’s a messaging problem—and it’s costing you clients. Join me for my free, live five-day experience: Enroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint. From March 16–20 at 9 a.m. Central, I’ll help you get crystal clear on your ideal client, refine your message so it actually resonates, and create a confidence statement that makes booking a call the obvious next step. No fluff, just clarity, you can use immediately. Grab your free spot at: https://starcoachshow.com/5dayEnroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint

Mentoring is a topic many coaches misunderstand, as they approach it reluctantly as another requirement in their credentialing process. In truth, mentoring is an opportunity, a gift, and a chance to sharpen our skills, break free from old habits, and continue our evolution as coaches. Mentoring is a valuable, transformational process that helps us identify our blind spots and expand our capacity. In this episode, you’ll hear insights about coaching presence in the mentoring process, along with how to approach your coaching growth with humility and curiosity. Join us to learn more!Carly Anderson is a Master Certified Coach who has been continuously active as an ICF assessor for MCC, PCC, and ACC since 2005. She has carried this heavy load as an assessor, giving back to our profession and helping numerous coaches advance in the field. She has personally mentored over 200 coaches who have earned their MCC credential. Show Highlights:Carly’s perspective on 20 years as an ICF assessor, which she calls “the greatest joy of my life.”The value of mentor coachingKey takeaways from Carly’s mentor coaching roleBeing present in mentoring without judgmentUsing “practices” to stay focused in mentoring: something tactile to hold, breathing exercises, hot yoga, chiropractic, massage, etc. The benefits of both group and individual mentoringDifferences between mentor coaching and supervised coachingHelping coaches develop their own styleThe value of listening to your own coaching recordings to help you be the best you can beCarly’s tips for getting the most out of your recordings and using reflection without judgmentThe #1 takeaway from today’s episode for being the most present as a mentor coachResources:Connect with Carly Anderson: WebsiteConnect with MegGet Meg’s FREE download, Finding Your Perfect Match: A Coach's Self-Reflection Guide.Explore the STaR Coach Show Mentor Program. New dates have been added for 2026!Explore past episodes and other resources at www.STaRcoachshow.com. Explore the STaR Coach Community and see what’s available there for you!Visit the STaR Coach Show YouTube Channel! Subscribe today! Join our live show taping on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 1 pm CT. Mentioned in this episode:Join Mentoring Program!If you’re a coach who wants to grow—not just check a box—this is for you. I’m enrolling coaches now for my Spring Mentoring Program. Some are here for credentialing hours. Others are here because they want to become the coach their clients rave about. Inside the program, we work on your actual coaching. You’ll hear yourself differently. Learn from other coaches. Develop more presence. And ask questions that create real transformation. If you’re ready to deepen your skills and your impact, I’d love to support you. Learn more at starcoachshow.com/mentor I’d love to work with you.Enroll More Clients: Clarity SprintDo you love coaching, but when it comes to enrolling clients, writing your bio, or posting online, you freeze? Or fall into “coach speak” that doesn’t actually connect? That’s not a you problem. It’s a messaging problem—and it’s costing you clients. Join me for my free, live five-day experience: Enroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint. From March 16–20 at 9 a.m. Central, I’ll help you get crystal clear on your ideal client, refine your message so it actually resonates, and create a confidence statement that makes booking a call the obvious next step. No fluff, just clarity, you can use immediately. Grab your free spot at: https://starcoachshow.com/5dayEnroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint

How are your “artful interruption” skills? This is a challenging yet essential skill for countering advice-giving patterns when facilitating coaching circles, peer learning groups, or team meetings. Inspired by a former student’s question about redirecting well-intentioned advice-givers without disrupting group dynamics, Meg provides practical strategies for facilitators who want to cultivate curiosity over knowing in group settings. By introducing the “two muscle framework,” along with specific techniques, visual cues, and verbal redirects, Meg demonstrates how to protect the coaching space and help people discover their own solutions. Learn how you can help safeguard space for learning and discovery! Join us to learn more!Show Highlights:The challenge of incorporating polite, thoughtful interruptions into a coaching culture: Why is this an essential and highly relevant topic in today’s coaching space?Understanding the two-muscle framework: the “knowing muscle” and the “curiosity muscle” (We short-circuit the creative process when we rush in with answers and advice)Advice-giving in groups is problematic in several specific ways. Setting the stage before the first session with non-negotiables:Pre-frame the purpose and agreements. Explain the “muscle” metaphor.Model what “good” looks like.Create psychological safety around interruption.Address the elephant in the room by naming what makes this challenging to do.The Facilitator’s Toolkit, Six Specific Strategies for Interrupting Skillfully:The Appreciative Redirect (Acknowledge, redirect, and teach)The Pause and Pivot (Put your idea in the “parking lot” to give them time to think through and explore.)Visual Cues and Signals (These can be fun with card signals, the “muscle-flex” gesture, and a “parking lot” for ideas. Meg even has suggestions for using these with virtual meetings.)The Pattern Interrupt with Choice (Give agency while redirecting behavior.)Reflection Break (This is where the deepest learning happens.)The Question Upgrade (This is teaching in real-time.)Understanding when stepping in with advice and expertise is valuable (Use both/and thinking about coaching vs. advising.)A measuring stick question: “What creates more lasting impact, being told or discovering?”Practical tips for implementation:Start with shorter rounds.Pick 1-2 visual cues that work well with your group.Have a co-facilitator.Debrief after every session.Celebrate improvement.Track progress tangibly.Rotate the facilitator role when your group gains experience.Create a question bank resource.Build in application.Be patient with yourself and the group. Meg’s important takeaways about artful interruptionMeg’s challenge for you this weekResources:Connect with MegGet Meg’s FREE download, Finding Your Perfect Match: A Coach's Self-Reflection Guide.Explore the STaR Coach Show Mentor Program. New dates have been added for 2026!Explore past episodes and other resources at www.STaRcoachshow.com. Explore the STaR Coach Community and see what’s available there for you!Visit the STaR Coach Show YouTube Channel! Subscribe today! Join our live show taping on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 1 pm CT. Mentioned in this episode:Enroll More Clients: Clarity SprintDo you love coaching, but when it comes to enrolling clients, writing your bio, or posting online, you freeze? Or fall into “coach speak” that doesn’t actually connect? That’s not a you problem. It’s a messaging problem—and it’s costing you clients. Join me for my free, live five-day experience: Enroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint. From March 16–20 at 9 a.m. Central, I’ll help you get crystal clear on your ideal client, refine your message so it actually resonates, and create a confidence statement that makes booking a call the obvious next step. No fluff, just clarity, you can use immediately. Grab your free spot at: https://starcoachshow.com/5dayEnroll More Clients: Clarity SprintJoin Mentoring Program!If you’re a coach who wants to grow—not just check a box—this is for you. I’m enrolling coaches now for my Spring Mentoring Program. Some are here for credentialing hours. Others are here because they want to become the coach their clients rave about. Inside the program, we work on your actual coaching. You’ll hear yourself differently. Learn from other coaches. Develop more presence. And ask questions that create real transformation. If you’re ready to deepen your skills and your impact, I’d love to support you. Learn more at starcoachshow.com/mentor I’d love to work with you.

Today’s episode tackles one of the most common workplace challenges: How do you lead effectively when people don’t report to you? My expert guest, a former coaching student of mine, reveals the hard-won lessons that transformed her approach to organizational change and unpacks practical strategies for motivating teams, navigating resistance, and creating real impact through influence rather than authority. Whether you’re a project manager, change leader, coach, or anyone tasked with getting things done across organizational silos, this conversation offers actionable frameworks for building collaboration instead of confrontation. In addition, my guest pulls back the curtain on the writing process and shares helpful tips for aspiring writers. Join us to learn more!Michelle Pauk is the author of Build a Golden Bridge: How to Lead Change When You're Not in Charge, and the founder of Streamside Coaching, a boutique coaching and consulting firm dedicated to helping organizations lead change and build collaborative cultures. Her clients include executives and change agents at Fortune 100s, non-profits, and fast-growing startups. A Professional Certified Coach with the International Coach Federation, Michelle holds a master’s degree in leadership and organizational development. Show Highlights:Filtering through the chatter when deciding to write a book: how Michelle brought her ideas and vision to life in Build a Golden BridgeMichelle’s writing process: how she began to create content and structure for the first draftDecisions around publishing (“Finishing the writing process means you’re about ⅓ of the way through.”)Michelle’s vision and goals in writing her bookThree gaps in the way we navigate change:Self-awarenessEmpathyCommunicationLetting go of assumptions to bridge the communication gapLooking for commonality over confrontation and ways to preserve dignity (Michelle explains the metaphor of “the golden bridge.”)Michelle’s takeaway thoughts Resources:Connect with Michelle Pauk: Website, LinkedIn, and Build a Golden BridgeConnect with MegGet Meg’s FREE download, Finding Your Perfect Match: A Coach's Self-Reflection Guide.Explore the STaR Coach Show Mentor Program. New dates have been added for 2026!Explore past episodes and other resources at www.STaRcoachshow.com. Explore the STaR Coach Community and see what’s available there for you!Visit the STaR Coach Show YouTube Channel! Subscribe today! Join our live show taping on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 1 pm CT. Mentioned in this episode:Join Mentoring Program!If you’re a coach who wants to grow—not just check a box—this is for you. I’m enrolling coaches now for my Spring Mentoring Program. Some are here for credentialing hours. Others are here because they want to become the coach their clients rave about. Inside the program, we work on your actual coaching. You’ll hear yourself differently. Learn from other coaches. Develop more presence. And ask questions that create real transformation. If you’re ready to deepen your skills and your impact, I’d love to support you. Learn more at starcoachshow.com/mentor I’d love to work with you.Enroll More Clients: Clarity SprintDo you love coaching, but when it comes to enrolling clients, writing your bio, or posting online, you freeze? Or fall into “coach speak” that doesn’t actually connect? That’s not a you problem. It’s a messaging problem—and it’s costing you clients. Join me for my free, live five-day experience: Enroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint. From March 16–20 at 9 a.m. Central, I’ll help you get crystal clear on your ideal client, refine your message so it actually resonates, and create a confidence statement that makes booking a call the obvious next step. No fluff, just clarity, you can use immediately. Grab your free spot at: https://starcoachshow.com/5dayEnroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint

The message in today’s episode is clear: leaders need new skills for navigating complexity, change, and the human aspects of work in modern times. The COVID-19 pandemic changed everything, and leaders must change with the times. Instead of “having all the answers,” leaders should leverage coaching competencies to transform their leadership effectiveness and become collaborative problem-solvers with their teams. In today’s compelling conversation, you’ll discover how curiosity beats assumption, how presence creates connection, and why collaboration might be THE most under-utilized leadership tool out there. Join us for practical insights you can use immediately!Dr. Damian Goldvarg, MCC, has 35 years of experience providing executive coaching, leadership training, and facilitation in more than 50 countries. As an esteemed coaching expert and the recipient of numerous accolades, he has been an ICF Assessor for 10 years and was the 2013-2014 International Coach Federation Global President. He has published multiple books on coaching-related topics, including his 2025 release, Lead with a Coaching Mindset: How the Best Leaders Unlock Potential. Show Highlights:After so many books, why this one NOW?The book’s alignment with the ICF’s coaching competenciesA coaching mindset definedThe sad facts about engagement at work: How can we change this?The benefits of leading with a coaching mindset–for leaders, teams, and the workplace cultureThe 8 ICF Core Competencies translated into practical leadership skills:Demonstrating Ethical Practice: Building trust through integrity and confidentialityEmbodying a Coaching Mindset: Maintaining curiosity and development focusEstablishing and Maintaining Agreements: Clarifying expectations and contractingCultivating Trust and Safety: Creating psychological safety in relationshipsMaintaining Presence: Being fully present rather than distracted by past or futureListening Actively: Paying attention to what’s said and unsaid, embracing silenceEvoking Awareness: Asking questions to uncover what’s in people’s wayFacilitating Growth: Supporting actionable plans with deadlines and accountabilityAdvice for struggling leaders who aren’t sure where (or how) to beginCollaboration is the key! It’s more important than “having all the answers.”Recognize when coaching or mentoring is best.Leading teams vs. individualsDr. Damian’s key message to leadersResources:Connect with Dr. Damian Goldvarg: Website, LinkedIn, and Lead with a Coaching Mindset: How the Best Leaders Unlock PotentialConnect with Meg:Get Meg’s FREE download, Finding Your Perfect Match: A Coach's Self-Reflection Guide.Explore the STaR Coach Show Mentor Program. New dates have been added for 2026!Explore past episodes and other resources at www.STaRcoachshow.com. Explore the STaR Coach Community and see what’s available there for you!Visit the STaR Coach Show YouTube Channel! Subscribe today! Join our live show taping on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 1 pm CT. Mentioned in this episode:Enroll More Clients: Clarity SprintDo you love coaching, but when it comes to enrolling clients, writing your bio, or posting online, you freeze? Or fall into “coach speak” that doesn’t actually connect? That’s not a you problem. It’s a messaging problem—and it’s costing you clients. Join me for my free, live five-day experience: Enroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint. From March 16–20 at 9 a.m. Central, I’ll help you get crystal clear on your ideal client, refine your message so it actually resonates, and create a confidence statement that makes booking a call the obvious next step. No fluff, just clarity, you can use immediately. Grab your free spot at: https://starcoachshow.com/5dayEnroll More Clients: Clarity SprintJoin Mentoring Program!If you’re a coach who wants to grow—not just check a box—this is for you. I’m enrolling coaches now for my Spring Mentoring Program. Some are here for credentialing hours. Others are here because they want to become the coach their clients rave about. Inside the program, we work on your actual coaching. You’ll hear yourself differently. Learn from other coaches. Develop more presence. And ask questions that create real transformation. If you’re ready to deepen your skills and your impact, I’d love to support you. Learn more at starcoachshow.com/mentor I’d love to work with you.

Welcome to 2026! I hope you’ve had time to reflect and recharge over the holidays, but I’m happy to be back with you for a new year of informative shows and amazing expert guests. Can you improve your performance and resilience through neuroscience-based strategies? The answer is YES! Today’s conversation covers mental toughness, managing negative thoughts, and creating positive change from the inside out. You’ll discover practical tools for navigating the constant “noise” of your thoughts and letting your mind direct which thoughts deserve your energy and attention. Are you ready to think differently about the way you think? Join us!Kevin Stacey is an effectiveness expert and former brain imaging specialist who helps individuals and organizations enhance performance, resilience, and results by utilizing neuroscience-based strategies. As the founder of TrainRight, Kevin has trained over 80,000 people across 48 states and four countries to break mental barriers, achieve peak performance, and navigate challenges with confidence. His diverse background blends military service, healthcare expertise, and corporate leadership. As the author of MindRight and TimeRight and a featured guest on major media outlets, Kevin delivers engaging keynotes, workshops, and coaching on mental toughness, time mastery, and high-performance strategies to clients such as Ford, IBM, The New York Times, and the Federal Reserve. Show Highlights:Overthinking is the #1 cause of unhappiness! (“Is my overthinking becoming counterproductive to the goals I want to accomplish?”)Kevin’s tips for “navigating the noise”: sometimes we need to ignore it, listen to it, or quiet it.Creating your own noise by controlling what you think aboutKevin’s tips for developing mental toughness:Separate the brain (the creator of thoughts) and the mind (the director of your thoughts). Use your mind to keep your brain in check.Develop a different relationship with your “scary” thoughts.How our brains harm our happinessChange the subject to change your thinking. (“Thoughts are not facts.”)Applying neuroscience to organizations by reducing insecurity and managing focusNoticing and changing your thoughts interrupts the pattern of your thinking. “What you think, you become; what you feel, you attract; what you imagine, you create.”The “noise” will always be there, but we don’t have to focus on it. (Like when you’re on a train, notice you’re on the “wrong track,” and get off at the “next station.”)Coaches can practice using a “pattern interrupt” technique with clients. Thought-changing techniques using ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy) and CBT (cognitive behavior therapy)The value of gratitude in managing our negative thoughts and reframing our perspectiveBe careful of “outrage addiction.”“Life is a journey, not a destination.”Use a daily reminder: “I’m grateful, I’m happy, how do I want this day to go?”Resources:Connect with Kevin StaceyWebsite, X, LinkedIn, MindRight, and TimeRight Connect with MegGet Meg’s FREE download, Finding Your Perfect Match: A Coach's Self-Reflection Guide.Explore the STaR Coach Show Mentor Program. New dates have been added for 2026!Explore past episodes and other resources at www.STaRcoachshow.com. Explore the STaR Coach Community and see what’s available there for you!Visit the STaR Coach Show YouTube Channel! Subscribe today! Join our live show taping on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 1 pm CT. Mentioned in this episode:Enroll More Clients: Clarity SprintDo you love coaching, but when it comes to enrolling clients, writing your bio, or posting online, you freeze? Or fall into “coach speak” that doesn’t actually connect? That’s not a you problem. It’s a messaging problem—and it’s costing you clients. Join me for my free, live five-day experience: Enroll More Clients: Clarity Sprint. From March 16–20 at 9 a.m. Central, I’ll help you get crystal clear on your ideal client, refine your message so it actually resonates, and create a confidence statement that makes booking a call the obvious next step. No fluff, just clarity, you can use immediately. Grab your free spot at: https://starcoachshow.com/5dayEnroll More Clients: Clarity SprintJoin Mentoring Program!If you’re a coach who wants to grow—not just check a box—this is for you. I’m enrolling coaches now for my Spring Mentoring Program. Some are here for credentialing hours. Others are here because they want to become the coach their clients rave about. Inside the program, we work on your actual coaching. You’ll hear yourself differently. Learn from other coaches. Develop more presence. And ask questions that create real transformation. If you’re ready to deepen your skills and your impact, I’d love to support you. Learn more at starcoachshow.com/mentor I’d love to work with you.