The Art Of Coaching

Regret. It’s a loaded word, especially around the holidays.  But it doesn’t have to be as painful as it seems. Imagine the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’ve done everything in your power to let someone truly understand where you’re coming from and why. How can we hold ourselves accountable and ensure we’re not the problem in those critical moments? Maybe you’re one of the lucky ones who...

There’s nowhere lonelier in the world than rock bottom.  It’s a place where overwhelm, anxiety, and uncertainty feel relentless, and the total weight of your burden makes moving forward seem impossible. Staying down is a choice, but it’s one that you really can’t afford to make. Before you pick yourself up, you need to know exactly where you are. When you recognize where the demons holding you dow...

This is not a “social media is bad” episode.  That conversation has been talked to death. The truth is, very few things are inherently good or bad—it’s all in how you use them. But today’s episode is about how they use you. If “they” were writing this, they’d correct me and say, it’s how we allow them to use us. What makes the algorithm so effective at manipulating our sense of self worth and expl...

Lazy.  It's one of the most shameful things you can be. And it's largely a title or accusation we make of ourselves. Why do we so frequently feel utterly drained, craving time to unwind and escape reality? Is there a way to not just reclaim that time, but to structure our days more intentionally to prevent fatigue from building and spiraling into a never-ending cycle? What can we do to finally exp...

Have you ever felt stuck or stagnant?  That restless feeling like you’re spinning your wheels, going nowhere fast, yet knowing deep down that you need to break free. Stagnation isn’t just about a lack of progress; it’s a state of mind that can creep into any part of your life—your career, your relationships, or even your personal growth. But the good news? Feeling stuck is a signal, not a sentence...

When they’re your best player or most productive employee, but ALSO the biggest thorn in your side.  We’ve all been there and had to deal with the type. What do you do? This episode transcends the specific context of coaching a high school athlete to tackle a broader, universal challenge faced by leaders, managers, and professionals everywhere. Whether you’re navigating a workplace dynamic, coachi...

The knot in your stomach. That flush of unease when you know you’ve fallen short of your own standards.  The only way to truly adapt and evolve is through real vulnerability—not the gentle, polished kind from TED talks, but the raw honesty that forces you to confront hard truths about yourself.  This isn’t about stepping out of your comfort zone in a clichéd way; it’s about embracing the discomfor...

Audit. It’s one of the most unsettling words in the English dictionary, carrying a connotation of fear and unease that makes people shy away from even the slightest hint of it  But, like most intimidating things, an audit becomes far less daunting once you look at it more closely. One definition of an audit is simply “a systematic review or assessment of something.” Think of it as a straightforwar...

“I’M DONE.” It’s one of the most frustrating feelings in the world.  You’ve tried everything to fix things but just can’t get through to someone. You keep hitting the wall over and over.  But what if there’s a way to revisit the problem, to approach it from a different angle, and open their minds (and ours) to new possibilities?  In this compact episode, Brett gets straight to the point of navigat...

Empty Coaching.  Words and phrases that lack teeth. “Good job! You’re getting there! I like that.” “We’ve got to get better. C’mon, step it up. That’s not what I’m looking for.” We’ve all been guilty of letting these clichés fly out of our mouths at one point or another. But do they actually help inspire change or simply fill the silence? In today’s episode, we cut through these hollow lines and e...

Our lives are not the movies.  When sudden, unpredictable events like family hardships or natural disasters strike, it can feel like we’re living in one. But more often, the changes in our stories are subtle.  The turmoil is internal, and we’re left to wrestle with our challenges quietly, on our own.  Today’s guest is no stranger to this real-life push and pull. She knows what it’s like to juggle...

We’ve all heard the motivational phrase, “Failure isn’t an option.” It sounds inspiring, but is it really true?  Failure, in reality, is an option—often chosen in the form of inaction, silence, or the unwillingness to engage. How many times have you held back an idea, avoided speaking up, or let a moment pass because of the fear of judgment? Playing it safe is extremely tragic. In today’s episode,...

Why would someone hold on to a false or inaccurate belief even when you’ve laid out all the facts and logic in front of them? You couldn’t have been more clear in presenting your argument! Your reasoning is solid, but maybe it’s not the absence of evidence that’s preventing them from changing their perspective—it might be the way the information was delivered... Today’s show is one of our keystone...

It’s the holy grail of mental health and wellness for many people. Almost all of us, at one point or another, have chased the elusive 'work-life balance,' hoping to find the perfect harmony between our careers and personal lives. But is 'balance' really the right word? Perhaps it’s a misnomer that oversimplifies the complexity of juggling work and family. Today’s topic arose from a conversation be...

“They just won’t listen. No matter how clearly I explain it, they refuse to see my side of things. It’s like talking to a brick wall." Have you ever felt like this, like you're hitting a dead end with someone who just won’t budge? Influencing people is an art, one that often requires more than just logic and facts, especially in today’s world where information has been turned into a kind of religi...

Am I a bad person? Nike’s latest ad asks this question, and the internet erupted in response. But is the real issue the ad, or what it reveals about our relationship with competition and ambition? In this episode, Brett Bartholomew delves into the controversy surrounding Nike's recent ad, featuring Willem Dafoe’s voice and a striking depiction of athletes at their most intense. While some argue th...

We’ve all been there. Our significant other is struggling and we ask “how can I help?”  While this is well-intentioned, is there anything we can do proactively to meet these challenges head on, before things completely unravel? Conversely, how can we express our own needs and clearly address what’s really bothering us, so we’re both on the same page? If you’ve been in this situation—and let’s face...

“Before tackling this problem, let me figure out how to make this simple.  It’s really not that complicated…” Have you ever taken this approach when dealing with a difficult issue with your family, friends, staff, or coworkers? While this tactic might work in some situations, most complex problems require solutions that reductive thinking simply can’t provide. Library and bookstore shelves are bri...

The quality of our relationships is the #1 determining factor in our overall happiness and well-being. Yet, how often do we hear real people having honest conversations about the challenges, complexities, and joys of solving the puzzle of truly connecting with those who are closest to us?  This week, Scott and Jaime Livingston join us for a candid conversation about the messy realities of relation...

Have you ever thought, "I'd love to do that, but I just don't have the money," or do you have interests or passions outside of your professional life that you've suppressed in order to advance your career?  Maybe you've pushed aside personal goals, believing the myth that true success requires unwavering focus on your career alone. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that anything outside...

Do you think mentorship is a straightforward, progressive process? Think again. We envision that ideal student-teacher relationship or the picturesque blacksmith-apprentice image, but in reality, things just don't work that way. People are complex and being an effective mentor requires a playbook that goes far beyond a cookie-cutter list of ideal traits.  In this episode we're turning back the clo...

“How can I do this better?”  Tackling large projects, like writing a book, can be incredibly daunting. It's easy to feel overwhelmed by your own ideas. How can we overcome this and get our thoughts onto paper? What tools or applications can help us stay organized and productive while assembling our project or book? In this episode we discuss: Why your workspace setup NEEDS to reflect your process...

“What can I do to help?”  Have you ever been asked that question and felt like throwing your hands up in frustration? Maybe it's a question you ask your team at work or your family at home. Whether you have specific needs or genuinely want to help others, how can we express ourselves more clearly and get to the heart of the issue? How can we show up in a way that makes an impact? Some of the key t...

We’ve heard it all before. Whether in sports or business, high achievers think differently than we do.  They’ve developed an internal flow chart for solving problems and regulating their emotions, creating a winning machine. Is this really how they do it? What tips can we pull from the ever-expanding mental performance world to improve our performance without falling into gimmicks and wasting time...

That spun out of control.  I don’t think they quite understand.  Would things have turned out different if I had approached it another way? Have you ever felt like that after an interaction?  None of us are perfect communicators, so chances are that you have.  It is extremely frustrating when things go wrong, especially when we have the knowledge and think we are adequately prepared to handle it. ...