The Coaching Podcast

G'day team! Coach EM here with your monthly coaching GEM! I've just returned from two incredible retreats in Winter Park, Colorado, and Leavenworth, Washington State, where spouses and partners joined us for something BRAND NEW! Leader as Partner! Now, I'm not a marriage therapist or relationship counsellor. I'm a COACH! And I believe coaching is a higher level of communicating. What fascinated me...

What does the future of leadership look like when compassion meets accountability? In this episode of The Coaching Podcast, People Expert Kathleen Quinn Votaw challenges leaders to lead without judgment, have fierce conversations, and create workplaces where people feel seen, valued, and empowered to take ownership of their performance. We explore why caring for the whole human is a leadership res...

Coach EM GEM - LUCK As a sports coach, I never said, “Good luck.” I’d say: “I know you can do this - because of the preparation. Now go and enjoy the battle of competition.” Why? Because I never wanted athletes to believe their performance came down to luck. One of my greatest inspirations is my father-in-law, Cliff Samara. Born in Sri Lanka, he left home at just 15 years old to chase his dreams -...

In this episode of The Coaching Podcast , I sit down with Rufus Keown to explore the power of coaching, growth mindset, and what it really means to invest in people. We talk about helping talent see a vision for their future, embracing the compounding effect of getting just 1% better, and using powerful questions to create new possibilities - including the wonderfully confronting question: “I wond...

What does it mean to live, lead, and coach with greater courage and authenticity? In this deeply personal and honest conversation, Nancy Girres, Vistage Chair and Executive Coach, explores how we close the gap between the life we’re living and the life we say we want. We unpack why motivation is often about creating the right environment, the power of peer groups, making wise decisions, and choosi...

What if effective learning doesn’t come from being told what to do, but from being invited to explore what’s possible? In this episode, coach developers Sarah McQuade and Linda Low explore why connection must come before learning, how skilled coaches create environments that pull learning rather than push messages, and why great facilitation can make learning feel almost effortless. From game...

Coach EM GEM — Start with Strengths We often focus on what people need to improve. What if we started with what they're already great at? Whether you're leading across generations, departments, or personalities, one question can unlock a powerful conversation: "What are your strengths, and how do you leverage them in the workplace?" You might be surprised by the answers. A younger employee ma...

In this episode, Gordon Reid shares why great coaching starts with being a great listener — listening not just with your ears, but with your eyes. We explore the power of keeping an open mind, saying “yes” to opportunities, and treating people the way they want to be treated. Gordon also shares Life Time’s culture of continuous learning, the power of “not yet,” and why almost everything is a skill...

Coach EM Gem — Coach the Person First One of the biggest mistakes leaders make is coaching the problem before they understand the person. The better you understand the person in front of you, the better you can coach them. Try asking: • What motivates you? • What's your why? • What gives you a sense of purpose? • What does success look like for you? • How do you like to receive feedback?...

Many leaders think their job is to have the answers. Jon Purpura believes the opposite. After more than 30 years leading teams at United Airlines, Jon has discovered that great leadership is built on curiosity, confidence, and creating environments where people genuinely want to show up. In this episode, we explore the power of vulnerability, psychological safety, executive presence, and why the q...

Coach EM Gem — Go Curious Micromanagement is often driven by certainty. Coaching leadership is driven by curiosity. The next time you're tempted to tell someone what to do, try one of these instead: ❌ "That won't work." ✅ "What if...?" ❌ "Here's the answer." ✅ "I'm curious..." ❌ "I don't know." ✅ "Imagine if...?" A few of my favourite coaching questions: • What if there was another way? • Wh...

What does it really mean to "know your player"? In this episode of The Coaching Podcast , Coach EM sits down with former ATP professional, Olympic coach, and LTP Academy Co-Director Mike Sell to explore why great coaching begins with understanding the individual. Mike shares practical insights on tailoring development to each player's needs, creating purposeful practice with no wasted repetitions,...

Coach EM Gem — Are You Speaking the Same Language? A Vistage Chair recently sent me this note after one of my workshops: "I reckon you’re an absolute legend—your energy had the whole room stoked! Fair dinkum, your custom approach was spot-on for the crew’s skillset. And crikey, you nailed it—coaching’s a ripper topic that’s not talked about enough. I’ll be spreading the word like a kangaroo on the...

Communication isn't just a leadership skill - it's leadership itself. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Erina Reddan, a former foreign correspondent, award-winning journalist, and communication coach, to explore why great leaders don't just share information - they create meaning. We unpack the power of storytelling, why our brains are wired to connect through stories, how to communicate with b...

Coach EM Gem - Do You Want to Go to the Next Level? Many people say: "I want to go to the next level." That's a good start. But a better question is: "How can I grow to the next level?" Wanting is intention. Growing requires action. The key is not making a giant leap. The key is making the first step so small and so easy that you can't talk yourself out of it. Growth happens when action follows in...

In this episode, I sit down with Isaac McBroom, Education Manager for the PTR and author of A Constraints-Led Approach to Coaching Tennis . We explore why great coaching is less about giving instructions and more about creating environments where people can learn, adapt, and discover solutions for themselves. From Theory of Mind and Ecological Dynamics to leadership, autonomy, and decision-making,...

Coach EM Gems 💎 How often do we say: “I just need to get through this week… this season… this stage of life.” Lately, I’ve been reminded how quickly time moves and how easy it is to wish parts of our lives away while waiting for the next thing. This Coach EM Gem is a reminder to slow down, be present, and find the gift in the season you are in – even the difficult ones. Today’s Coach EM Gem is po...

Everything starts in the mind – and in this episode of The Coaching Podcast , I sit down with Jaquie Scammell to explore what that really means for leaders navigating a fast-moving, AI-driven world. This is a conversation about perspective, presence, and performance – from how we manage our thoughts and energy in the micro-moments, to how we show up for others through feedback, coaching, and every...

Coach EM Turbo Tip: From the Wall to the Floor - Reflection Tool Shout-out to the company CIMET (team India) for running an all-company "AS ONE" team-strengthening day, bringing their values from the "wall to the floor". Here is one of the reflection tools that we used to bring their values to life: LBW - think cricket! But we don't want you to go out - so think BLW: B = Behaviour — What did you s...

In this special Legacy Episode of The Coaching Podcast, Coach EM honours the life and work of Jim Loehr — world-renowned performance psychologist, bestselling author, and co-founder of the Human Performance Institute. Dr. Loehr sadly passed away on April 20, 2026, at the age of 83, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy that shaped athletes, coaches, leaders, and performers across the globe. From...

Coach EM Turbo Tip: Feedback is the breakfast of champions. Clarity is kindness. #1 driver of enhanced performance is: Fair. Frequent. Factual. Start here: Who is the person in front of you? Then choose your conversation framework. For a Socializer style, try Start / Stop / Steer : 1️⃣ What will you start doing? 2️⃣ What will you stop doing? 3️⃣ Where do you need to steer your energy this wee...

What happens when coaching shifts from me to we ? In this episode on The Coaching Podcast, I sit down with Carrie Sackett — America’s Loneliness Coach — to explore how connection, trust, and group dynamics unlock real growth. We dive into the power of “we language,” why radical presence is the foundation of great coaching, and how the Zone of Proximal Development comes to life through relationship...

Coach EM Turbo Tip – Sleep Hack:  Sleep is your number one recovery tool I’ve recently returned from Sandpiper Beach in Coles Bay, on the edge of Freycinet National Park in Tasmania. Quiet. Still. Every wave is different. Here’s the energy hack: Sleep is your number one recovery tool. And when your mind won’t switch off — use the wave. Picture a slow, gentle wave rolling in and out....

On The Coaching Podcast , WTA Tour coach Jared Jacobs joins me to unpack what really decides matches when the margins are small and the spotlight is big. Coaching at the highest level is a collaboration. It’s rarely about forehands and backhands. On the tour, it’s mental gymnastics. Pressure exposes character. Competition tests your training. And great coaching means knowing — before the heat...

In this powerful conversation with David Cory , we unpack the real difference between EI and EQ — and why emotional intelligence is no longer a “soft skill,” but a leadership necessity. We explore vulnerability (and the myth of “big boys don’t cry”), the idea of sharing emotions instead of wearing them, and how to “name it to tame it” rather than stuffing feelings down. David breaks down transform...