We hear this from a lot of coaches in recent times: There are too many coaches out there! It’s getting increasingly difficult to reach potential clients amidst the sheer number of coaches trying to keep their businesses afloat. In this conversation, Yannick and Siwash share their perspective on why coaching as an industry can’t be saturated due to existing demands, discuss a solution to the problem of “saturation”, explain why it’s so important to pay attention to your personal narratives, and h...
Apr 30, 2026•12 min•Season 1Ep. 97
In this episode of "Talking about Coaching" Yannick, Siawash, and Nicki delve into the intriguing intersection of coaching and therapy. They discuss the importance of understanding one's past to enhance present and future coaching outcomes. The conversation explores how coaches can navigate the delicate balance between exploring past experiences and maintaining a forward-focused approach. Tune in to discover insightful perspectives on how past narratives shape our present actions and future aspi...
Jan 15, 2026•1 min•Season 1Ep. 96
In this episode, Yannick Jacob, Siwash, and Nicki dive into the evolving landscape of coaching in the digital age. They explore the benefits and challenges of recording coaching sessions, particularly with the integration of AI. The discussion covers ethical considerations, client comfort, and the potential for AI to enhance coaching practices. Tune in to discover how technology is reshaping the coaching experience and what it means for both coaches and clients. Chapters 00:00:00 - Introduction ...
Jan 01, 2026•27 min•Season 1Ep. 95
A few coaches recently have brought questions about set coaching programmes into the supervision room. Marketing-wise, set programmes are an excellent way to instill certainty and trust in your coaching, by selling the idea that a “proven method” or relied upon series of exercises, assessments, or lines of inquiry are going to create a particular outcome within a certain timeframe. Now every serious coach knows that in reality, those kind of journeys at best are opening doors into the conversati...
Dec 18, 2025•17 min•Season 1Ep. 94
Yannick and Nicki have been facing some significant loss in their recent past and in this episode decided to discuss their journey of getting back into coaching clients. Grief and bereavement are experienced on a spectrum and everyone is ultimately navigating their own journey, but questions such as “When is it appropriate to see clients again?”, “Do I disclose what happened to my clients?”, “How do I stay focused on my client’s issues?”, or “To what extent do I need to have processed my own los...
Dec 04, 2025•43 min•Season 1Ep. 93
Most of us have been there, and if you haven’t you’ll meet them soon: The “I don’t know” client, who responds to every coaching question with “I don’t know”. Are they avoiding the question? Do they not want to be there? Do they not trust you? Are they scared of what they might find? Have they been sent to coaching against their will? Or do they simply not know anything? Whatever it may be, for coaches this situation can be mighty frustrating, so in this episode, Nicki and Yannick discuss how to ...
Jul 03, 2025•22 min•Season 1Ep. 92
In this conversation, Yannick Jacob and Siwash Zahmat explore the intersection of coaching and artificial intelligence (AI). They discuss how AI can serve as a valuable tool for coaches, enhancing their capabilities and providing insights that can improve client interactions. The dialogue emphasizes the importance of maintaining authenticity in communication while leveraging AI for content creation and business processes. They also touch on the evolving role of AI in coaching, the necessity of h...
Jun 19, 2025•38 min•Season 1Ep. 91
In this conversation, Yannick Jacob and Nicki explore the metaphor of dance in coaching, discussing how different styles of dance can represent various coaching approaches. They emphasize the importance of creating safe spaces for clients, the balance between structure and freedom, and the need for coaches to be adaptable in their methods. The discussion also touches on the significance of contracting and understanding the client's preferred 'dance' style, ultimately encouraging coaches to refle...
May 01, 2025•31 min•Season 1Ep. 90
In this conversation, Yannick Jacob and Nicki explore the intersection of AI and coaching, discussing how AI can enhance reflective practice and supervision for coaches. They delve into the potential benefits and challenges of integrating technology into coaching, emphasizing the importance of maintaining human connection while leveraging AI's capabilities. The discussion also touches on the future of coaching, the ethical considerations of using AI, and the need for a balanced approach to techn...
Apr 17, 2025•31 min•Season 1Ep. 89
This conversation explores the realities of full-time coaching, addressing the common misconceptions and challenges faced by coaches. The speakers discuss the importance of having a diverse skill set, including sales and marketing, to build a sustainable coaching career. They emphasize that many coaches often maintain other jobs while developing their coaching practice and that the journey to becoming a full-time coach can be long and requires persistence. Keywords coaching, full-time coaching, ...
Mar 27, 2025•14 min•Season 1Ep. 88
In this conversation, Yannick Jacob, Nicki, and Siwash Zahmat explore the complexities of coaching, focusing on themes of accountability, dependency, and motivation. They discuss the importance of fostering client independence and the balance between providing support and creating dependency. The conversation also delves into intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation, the nature of coaching relationships, and the significance of secure attachment in coaching dynamics. The episode concludes with refl...
Mar 13, 2025•26 min•Season 1Ep. 87
In this conversation, Nicki and Yannick explore the multifaceted importance of coaching, discussing its various forms and impacts on individuals, groups, and society. They delve into the distinctions between coaching and therapy, emphasizing the unique benefits each offers. The discussion also touches on personal experiences in coaching, the challenges faced, and the journey of rebuilding confidence in the coaching profession. Keywords coaching, therapy, personal development, self-awareness, pos...
Feb 28, 2025•20 min•Season 1Ep. 86
In this conversation, Nicki and Yannick delve into the complexities surrounding the stigma that the job title “life coach” carries, exploring personal experiences and societal perceptions. They discuss the importance of accreditation and professional standards in the coaching industry, as well as the financial motivations that can sometimes overshadow the genuine intent of coaching. The dialogue also touches on global perspectives on coaching stigma, highlighting how different cultures perceive ...
Feb 13, 2025•27 min•Season 1Ep. 85
In this conversation, Yannick Jacob and Andrea Matuz explore the intricate relationship between coaching, supervision, marketing, and sales. They discuss the importance of authenticity in both the coaching process and marketing strategies, emphasizing the need for coaches to connect with potential clients while also navigating their own discomfort with visibility and sales. The dialogue highlights the significance of numbers in tracking progress and the necessity of building genuine relationship...
Feb 06, 2025•1 hr 47 min
In this conversation, Yannick Jacob and Siwash Zahmat delve into the nuances of closing consultations in coaching. They discuss the importance of leaving time for closing, ethical considerations in sales, and the transition from coaching to closing. The dialogue emphasizes the need for a structured approach while maintaining a client-centered focus, exploring how to create options for clients and the significance of creating space for decision-making. They also touch on the use of checklists to ...
Jan 30, 2025•21 min•Season 1Ep. 84
In this conversation, Yannick Jacob and Dylan Emerick-Brown discuss the power of narratives in coaching. They explore how narratives shape our lives and how coaches can work with narratives to help their clients. They also discuss the role of curiosity and discomfort in coaching, as well as the importance of a good editor or coach to help navigate the unknown. The conversation highlights the value of storytelling and the impact it can have on personal growth and transformation. In this conversat...
Jan 28, 2025•1 hr 59 min•Season 3Ep. 4
In this conversation, Yannick Jacob and Nicki Siwash explore the multifaceted challenges of being a coach. They discuss the commitment to mastery, the stigma associated with the coaching identity, the impact of personal struggles on professional presence, and the looming influence of AI on the coaching profession. The dialogue emphasizes the importance of understanding one's own journey while supporting others and the need for coaches to evolve beyond basic methodologies to remain relevant in a ...
Jan 16, 2025•17 min•Season 1Ep. 83
Yannick and Dr. Nelly Nguyen delve into positive-existential philosophy with a focus on coaching. They begin by exploring the significance of names and identity before sharing their paths to the coaching field. Dr. Nguyen recounts her journey from physics to sports and educational science, driven by her curiosity about human suffering and existential questions. The discussion highlights sports metaphors in coaching, the creation of flow experiences, and the vital role of storytelling in understa...
Jan 09, 2025•2 hr 24 min•Season 3Ep. 3
In this conversation, the hosts discuss the challenges of coaching clients who tend to overthink. They explore various strategies to help these clients, including understanding their patterns, using cognitive and somatic approaches, and emphasizing the importance of mindfulness and present moment awareness. The discussion also highlights the need for courage to take action despite uncertainty and reframes overthinking as a potential strength when managed properly. Keywords coaching, overthinking...
Jan 02, 2025•23 min•Season 1Ep. 82
In this conversation, Talking about Coaching hosts Yannick Jacob, Siwash Zahmat, and Nicki Drab discuss their personal journeys into coaching, exploring how their experiences shaped their decision to pursue this career. They reflect on the evolution of coaching as a profession, the impact of personal growth, and the importance of emotional resilience in helping others. The discussion highlights the diverse paths individuals take to become coaches and the significance of self-discovery in this pr...
Dec 19, 2024•22 min•Season 1Ep. 81
In this dialogue, Yannick Jacob talks to Avi Goren-Bar, a Jungian coach and psychologist, about his approach to coaching and the integration of Jungian psychology. Avi shares his personal journey into the field and discusses the importance of creativity and art therapy in his work. He explains his unique coaching method, which combines Jungian principles with Gestalt therapy and uses coaching cards to elicit dialogue with the unconscious. Avi emphasizes the need for coaches to have a deep unders...
Dec 11, 2024•2 hr 5 min•Season 3Ep. 2
In this conversation, the Talking about Coaching hosts discuss the challenges of maintaining focus and presence during coaching sessions, particularly in the context of listening fatigue. They explore personal experiences with distractions, the impact of ADHD, and strategies to enhance listening skills, including mindfulness practices, visualization techniques, and intention setting. The conversation emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and responsibility in coaching, as well as the need ...
Dec 05, 2024•19 min•Season 1Ep. 80
In this conversation, Yannick Jacob and Beth Clare McManus explore the intersection of coaching, creativity, and research. They discuss the importance of making research accessible, the role of creativity in coaching, and the ethical considerations that arise when using art and music in practice. The dialogue emphasizes the need for coaches to be aware of their influence on clients and the significance of supervision in navigating these complex dynamics. Through practical examples, they illustra...
Nov 28, 2024•2 hr 33 min•Season 1Ep. 4
In this conversation, Talking about Coaching hosts Yannick Jacob, Nicki Drab, and Siwash Zahmat discuss the essential elements of creating a coaching website. They emphasize the importance of using the website as a tool to initiate conversations rather than just a “sophisticated business card”. The discussion covers the significance of building relationships, the role of simplicity in design, and the potential of social media as an alternative to traditional websites. They also explore how to de...
Nov 21, 2024•6 min•Season 1Ep. 79
The conversation explores the fear of failure and rejection that many coaches experience, which prevents them from putting themselves out there and being visible. The hosts discuss the mindset and skill development needed to overcome this fear. They emphasize the importance of taking small steps, reframing failure as a learning opportunity, and shifting the focus from outcomes to the process. They also highlight the need to understand that a 'no' does not necessarily mean personal rejection. Ove...
Jul 25, 2024•16 min•Season 1Ep. 78
The conversation explores the topic of self-disclosure in coaching. The hosts discuss the traditional approach of not disclosing anything about oneself and the potential benefits of sharing personal experiences. They emphasize the importance of maintaining focus on the client and being mindful of the intention behind self-disclosure. The conversation also touches on the potential risks and pitfalls of self-disclosure, such as projecting one's own experiences onto the client. Overall, the hosts s...
Jul 11, 2024•27 min•Season 1Ep. 77
Consultations arguably are the most important conversation coaches have with their clients, as they are instrumental in whether we will have more conversations or not. Without more conversations, we cannot help anyone. So in this conversation, Yannick and Siwash discuss the importance of consultations in coaching and the key elements of a successful discovery call: Having a plan, why we should stop trying to convince anyone, how we can manage time and structure, how to best set goals and avoid g...
Jun 27, 2024•58 min•Season 1Ep. 76
To celebrate the launch of the online self-study version of my "Introduction to Existential Coaching" training , I'm very happy to finally release the first episode of my "Global Perspectives on Existential Coaching" series with Mexican Existential Coach and Therapist Yaqui Andres Martinez Robles, recorded at Yaqui's school in Mexico City in 2021. In this series of conversations with global thought leaders in existential coaching, Yannick Jacob, author of An Introduction to Existential Coaching,...
Jun 27, 2024•1 hr 58 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Yannick and Siwash discuss whether coaches who have just finished their coaching qualification are ready to take on paid clients. They address the hesitancy coaches often feel about charging for their services and provide insights on when and how to start charging. They emphasize that everyone can charge for their time and that clients want to invest in their own journey. The conversation also explores the importance of transparency, setting up a review process, and overcoming personal money sto...
Jun 13, 2024•16 min•Season 1Ep. 75
The conversation explores the question of whether to lead with problems or results when selling coaching services. Yannick and Siwash discuss the effectiveness of selling a solution to a problem and the alignment with positive psychology. They also explore the power of leading with a vision and inspiring clients to move towards their desired outcomes. The conversation delves into the different approaches of being a painkiller or a vitamin, and the importance of choosing the type of clients and w...
May 30, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 74
