The Coaching Lab: Evidence-Based High Performance & Wellbeing

In 2003, I was in New Zealand to compete in the Triathlon world championships. It was an amazing time. I met some amazing athletes from around the world, most notably Champion Barb Lindquist and Sheila Taormina, who went on to become the first person to qualify for the Olympics in THREE different sports. But the most interesting person I met? Today’s guest, Tricia Downing. Among a sea of mental to...

I was just thinking... What if we were to apply Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University concepts to our health, wellness and performance? In this special episode, Dr. Cooper flips on the mic and shares some initial thoughts about how we might help our coaching clients, friends and ourselves by applying the popular 7 Baby Steps provided by Ramsey in relation to our money to our lives. Short e...

This is Part II of the intriguing interview with Author, Coach and top endurance athlete Matt Fitzgerald on the subject of Chasing Mastery. If you missed Part I, it is available via any podcast app as the episode preceeding this one. While you'll love this discussion, you might love it even more if you tap into Part I first :-) You can access Matt Fitzgerald's latest book Chasing Mastery...

Mastery. What does that encompass when it comes to our health, wellness & performance? How does mindset, consistency and growth affect it? What are the keys to making it a reality? In this discussion with renowned endurance sports author, coach and elite athlete, we’ll unpack the concept of mastery: how it's developed, what holds athletes back, and why the pursuit itself can be more fulfi...

This special episode looks at specific (and practical) strategies for unlocking peak performance. It is based on the opening keynote presentation from Dr. Cooper at a conference in Colorado. Link to article resources mentioned in presentation available here Link to episode expanding on how to create a clear personal vision avail here Info re earning your health & wellness coaching certificatio...

Midlife. For some, the word alone is enough to send shivers down the spine. It’s a time of challenge, change and potential confusion. Or – if you believe the perspective of today’s guest, Chip Conley, the beginning of the very best parts of our lives! Joining us today is Chip Conley , a true visionary in leadership, aging, and personal reinvention . Chip made his mark as the founder one of the lar...

Midlife. For some, the word alone is enough to send shivers down the spine. It’s a time of challenge, change and potential confusion. Or – if you believe the perspective of today’s guest, Chip Conley, the beginning of the very best parts of our lives! Joining us today is Chip Conley , a true visionary in leadership, aging, and personal reinvention . Chip made his mark as the founder one of the lar...

Welcome back to Part II of the interview with Dr. Alex Hutchinson, author of the fascinating new book - The Explorer's Gene: Why we seek big challenges, new flavors, and the blank spots on the map. You can find his book at AlexHutchinson.net Info re earning your health & wellness coaching certification , annual Rocky Mountain Coaching Retreat & Symposium & more via https://www.cat...

Exploration. The search for the unknown has shaped the history of our species, molding our behavior in ways we are only beginning to understand. And that understanding is about to come into focus for us today, thanks to today’s guest, best-selling author and one of my favorite writers, Dr. Alex Hutchinson. Alex is well known, both for his popular Outside Magazine columns on the topic of sweat scie...

Let's talk sleep! In this episode, Dr. Cooper walks through 20 specific strategies to a better night's sleep, including evidence based practices, tips from top researchers, and some tweaks he's playing with in his own sleep. To access prior interviews with sleep physicians, researchers and authors, please see this link . To access a written (article) version of this episode for refe...

Welcome to a special episode of The Coaching Lab, where we’re discussing a hot topic in the world of health & wellness coaching: Coaching and Counseling. What’s the difference? How do they complement one another? Can one replace the other? Does coaching have a role within employee assistance programs? Are there red flags to look for related to either of the two? With mental health garnering cr...

For the first time in our 350+ episodes, we split an interview into two separate episodes due to the wonderful depth and length of this outstanding discussion with best-selling author, athlete and coach Steve Magness! If you missed the first half of the interview, you can access it via any podcast app. To access additional tools & resources from Steve, please visit  https://www.stevemagness.co...

The great Yogi Berra was famous for saying “Baseball is 90% mental. The other half is physical.” While that brings a smile to our face, he may have been onto something… something that applies to each of us across the spectrum of pursuits. We look to bring the very best version of ourselves as we step up to the plate each day across various personal, professional and athletic pursuits. And today’s...

Are you in the 2nd half of life? or are you a coach coming alongside those looking to make the most of THEIR second half of life? It's a unique journey, and one we felt could benefit from a new resource created specifically to bring insights, ideas and encouragement to those walking this journey. This is a special cross-over episode with the brand new, very unique podcast: Not Done Yet! Bolst...

This special episode focuses on key essentials to getting started in a career as a health, wellness & performance coach, including the 4 primary ways to get started. Here is the link to the YouTube Coaching Channel playlist mentioned in this episode if helpful. Info re earning your health & wellness coaching certification , annual Rocky Mountain Coaching Retreat & Symposium & more...

In this very special BEST of The Coaching Lab episode, you'll get to tune into a real, live - and completely unscripted - coaching session between a NBHWC nationally board-certified health & wellness coach and her client. Info re earning your health & wellness coaching certification , annual Rocky Mountain Coaching Retreat & Symposium & more via https://www.catalystcoachingins...

Goals? They can be beneficial, but there's an even more valuable process available for those who truly want to bolster their personal or professional lives (or both!). In this special episode, Dr. Cooper discusses the value of creating a clear, personal vision for your life and walks through the steps to creating your own. The video with examples he mentioned is available here . Info re earni...

One of the most common questions we receive is how best to narrow down the 120+ NBHWC-approved health & wellness coaching certification programs to the one that is best for you. There isn't an easy answer, as the needs, goals and preferences of each student are unique. However, there are some essential ways in which you can filter the long list down to the top 2-3 best choices for you to...

Welcome to the latest episode of The Coaching Lab! We're thrilled to have Dr. Daniel Brown of the University of Portsmouth with us, a leading expert & researcher on the psychology of human excellence and wellbeing, including the impact of mental health and the understanding of resilience and the ability to truly thrive in the full sense of the word. Whether you’re a coach looking for new...

In this special "Coaching Q & A" episode of The Coaching Lab, Dr. Cooper discusses 3 specific and immediately applicable strategies you can implement to grow your coaching business. This is not an easy question for anyone (including us, and we've been doing it since 2007!), but this episode will provide you with actionable steps you can take with minimal to no direct expense tha...

Welcome to The Coaching Lab’s 'Dopamine Unplugged' episode, where we dive into the fascinating world of dopamine—our brain’s supposed superstar neurotransmitter! Is it really the 'happiness chemical,' or are there more nuanced truths behind its role in motivation and behavior? Today we’ll be debunking common myths, explore the latest research, and uncover how understanding dopa...

We all feel like we're drowning at times, sinking beneath the surface and unable to come up for air. What then? Engaging with a therapist or seeking help through the suicide and crisis hotline (text 988 - available 24/7) may be a necessary next step. In addition, this week's special mindset episode discusses another valuable step forward: Pick One. Info re earning your health & welln...

Welcome to The Coaching Lab! Today, we have a special guest who will pull back the curtain on one of the world’s most popular training strategies: The Norwegian Method with the guy who’s seen it all - Brad Culp (his new book is available here ). With insights rooted in science and real-world applications, he not only reveals the secrets behind this method but also shares practical tips for coaches...

The story of Steve Jobs and Apple may not be exactly as you've heard it. The real story lays out the value of merging possibility & necessity in our own lives. We take a deeper dive in this special Mindset episode of The Coaching Lab podcast! Info re earning your health & wellness coaching certification , annual Rocky Mountain Coaching Retreat & Symposium & more via https://ww...

It’s been awhile since we’ve done a rapid-fire physiology and fitness episode, but today’s the day! Whether you’re a serious athlete or someone looking to make the most of their personal & professional outcomes, you’ll love this one. Today’s guest, Brady Holmer, is a must-follow for those dialed into the latest insights on human physiology. You know I love this stuff and read everything in sig...