STRENGTHENING YOUR SKILLS
Building Your Confidence and Competence
When we confidently partner with our clients in the coaching relationship we are honoring the process of coaching by being present, listening actively, asking questions and using reflection to evoke awareness and being useful in the process of designing forward movement. This collection includes episodes that:
- Sharpen coaching skills and mastery
- Explore different coaching niches
- Do deep dives into competencies
- Explore growth and learning journeys
- Provide ideas for self-care and compassion
- Look at mindset and neuroscience
- Increase awareness on credentialing
Focus on the Coaching Partnership
Let’s Strengthen Your Skills
495: We are All the Walking Wounded: Trauma-Informed Coaching
I’m thrilled to welcome back a previous guest today! Her first appearance was in Episode 232 back in 2020. She helps us get clear on something that confuses many coaches: What does it mean to be “trauma-informed,” and why does it matter for every single one...
493: What Magic Teaches Us About Life, Loss, and Purpose with Andrew Bennett
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...
492: The Art of Improvisation Meets Coaching with Ricci Victorio, MCC
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...
491: What Separates Transformational Coaches from the Rest with Dr. Marcia Reynolds, MCC
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...
489: The Humble Farmer Coach: Harvest Before You Plant with Meg Rentschler, MSW, PCC
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...
488: Team Coaching Unpacked with Katerina Kanelidou, MCC
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...
482: All Coaching is Play with Paul Sanbar, MCC
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...
481: The Trust Triangle with Meg Rentschler, MSW, PCC
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...
480: Embrace Your Emotions: The Key to Greater Joy with Joie Seldon
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...
478: Beyond Requirements: Why Every Coach Needs Mentoring with Carly Anderson, MCC
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...
477: Artful Interruption with Meg Rentschler, MSW, PCC
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...
476: Leading without Authority: Build Bridges, Not Battles with Michelle Pauk
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...
475: Questions Over Answers: Why Leaders Need Curiosity More Than Expertise with Dr. Damian Goldvarg, MCC
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...
474: Navigate the Noise: Using Your Mind to Keep Your Brain in Check with Kevin Stacey
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...
473: Three Words for 2026: A Framework for Intentional Growth
rreHere we are at the last episode of the STaR Coach Show for 2025, as I’ll be taking some time off, as I usually do, to fully enjoy the holiday season. We have logged 50 episodes this year, exploring what it takes to build coaching skills, grow sustainable...
472: Rebuilding Connection in a Disconnected World with Julie Davis Colan and Dr. Lee Colan
We are living in what some are calling “a loneliness epidemic.” The holidays, a time for celebrating our connections to each other, only amplify feelings of loneliness for many people. As we are more connected, digitally speaking, than ever before, we have...
465: It’s Not Laziness: Understanding Procrastination with Robin J. Emdon
Have you ever found yourself staring at your to-do list, desperately wanting to work, but somehow NOT working? You’re scrolling through social media, reorganizing your desk, making another coffee, doing anything but the thing you actually need to do. You...
461: When Values Collide with Meg Rentschler, MSW, PCC
How do you react when a client shares a perspective that fundamentally contradicts everything you believe about fairness, justice, or human dignity? In that moment, you face a choice that could define this session AND the entire coaching relationship. We...
460: The Missing Link from Achievement to Fulfillment with Nancy Ho
External professional achievements, as remarkable as they are, do not always translate to internal fulfillment. There can be a disconnect, so it is essential to take a closer look at success. My guest is joining us from Singapore, and she knows what success...
457: Transform Your Coaching with One Simple Word Change
What if you could strengthen your communication and change the way you ask questions by switching one small word? In today’s episode, you’ll discover how replacing “why” questions with “what” and “how” can revolutionize your coaching conversations. Host Meg...
455: Empowering Voices: Inclusive Coaching and Leadership with Ingrid Hu Dahl
It is critical that we, as coaches, strive for cultural awareness in our work. One of the most important aspects of coaching is the richness of our differences and perspectives, and often, the voices that are heard the least are those that can teach us the...
454: The Permission Paradox: How Success Could Kill Your Dreams with Mitch Matthews
You’ve experienced success, and you are the person that others come to for answers. The problem is that sometimes this very success becomes a trap, stopping us from dreaming new dreams and taking on new challenges. Today’s conversation dives deep into...
452: Breaking Through the “First Client” Barrier with Meg Rentschler, MSW, PCC
Are you a purpose-driven coach who wonders why you’re staring at an empty calendar? Are you unsure about getting those first crucial clients? If you’re caught in the frustrating cycle of needing experience to get clients and needing clients to get more...
450: Your Values are the Voice of Your Soul with Alma Weaver Jones, PCC
Today’s show focuses on values. How do we get clear on our values, and how do we best help our clients get clear on their values? Our starting point is to understand the crucial difference between needs and values. Join us to discover the transformative...
448: Pen vs. Presence: The Great “Notes” Debate with Meg Rentschler, MSW, PCC
In today’s episode, I’m going solo to explore a question I’ve been asked dozens of times: “Should I take notes during my coaching sessions?” As with many things in life, this is not a black or white issue, and the experts are divided over their answers....
445: Transform Sabotage Into Success with Carol Look
As service providers, it’s imperative that we emphasize our own well-being before we can be there fully to help others. My guest is the ideal person to help us understand this concept of transforming sabotage into success. Join us to learn more! Carol Look...
443: Mastering Your Emotional Compass While Coaching with Meg Rentschler
In today’s solo episode, we are exploring why developing emotional regulation is fundamental to having an effective coaching mindset. We will learn how emotions are valuable clues to our underlying thoughts and self-talk. I’ll share practical techniques to...
442: Be the Main Character in Your Life Story with Dianna Kokoszka
Today’s show focuses on personal growth and mindset, and we are highlighting the significance of being the main character in your life story....
439: Is Fear Holding You Back? With Meg Rentschler, MSW, PCC
Is fear holding you back? We are diving into this topic, which affects all of us in our coaching careers. I believe that fear, not hate, is the opposite of love. When we are caught up in the fear of what other people think about us, whether we are smart...
436: Light in Chaos: Intuitive Coaching with Grace Calpus, PCC
In this episode, we are meeting you where you are in today’s chaos. We will discuss how to show up at your best, no matter what the situation. Are you relying on your intuition as a coach? Join us to learn more! Grace Calpus is a PCC-certified coach and the...
435: Disciplined Listening with Mike Reddington
A good coach MUST be a good listener. Beyond that, they must be a “disciplined listener.” Today’s guest covers this topic with information and expertise. Join us to learn more! Mike Reddington is a Certified Forensic Interviewer and the president of...
433: When Shift Happens: Make Magic Happen with Kat O’Sullivan
In everyday life and in business, shifts occur that cause us to rethink, reframe, and pivot. Our perspective means everything when we face these shifts, and the opportunity is there to make magic happen. Join us to explore this topic with today’s expert...
431: Balance and Boundaries: Safety and Trust with Meg Rentschler, MSW, PCC
Balance is crucial in every aspect of life! Our clients look to us to create the structure and flow of the coaching process, and maintaining boundaries is part of that process. Today’s episode explores the importance of boundaries as a professional coach to...
427: Navigating Life Transitions: Coaching Support for Retirement with Suzanne Campi
The different phases of life are filled with transitions, and the transition to retirement means facing many unknowns. We may financially prepare for retirement for many, many years, but facing its reality challenges our mental and emotional health. Whether...
425: Path from PCC to MCC: Insights from a MCC Mentor and Assessor with Fran Fisher, MCC
When should you consider the path from PCC to MCC? In this episode, you’ll learn the ICF designations for MCC and PCC, along with the different levels of coaching certifications. Fran Fisher joins us to discuss this topic, which is the sweet spot of her expertise. Explore this topic with us today!
Fran Fisher, MCC, is recognized as a pioneer in the coaching industry. She’s a published author, international speaker, and founding ICF executive board member who helped develop the credentialing program for aspiring coaches and training schools. She specializes in mentoring experienced coaches for their MCC accreditation, and she offers advanced certification mentor training. Fran founded one of the first coach training schools to be accredited by the ICF, and she’s an executive ICF board member as chair of the credentialing development committee, serving as an ICF credentialing assessor since 1998. In 2022, Fran received the ICF Circle of Distinction Award.
423: The Bittersweet Nature of Change with Meg Rentschler, MSW, PCC
Can you believe this is our final episode of 2024? At this time of saying goodbye to one year and opening the possibilities of a new one, it’s the perfect time to focus on change. Change is an inevitable and unpredictable part of life. Change is a process that requires us, as coaches, to look at the impact of change on ourselves and help our clients navigate change through the lens of growth, opportunity, and possibility. Join me for more about the bittersweet nature of change.
421: Confident Communication: Your Key to Success with Bailey Massey
Today’s guest is an expert in speech and communication training, and we are diving into the importance of our communication in building confidence and getting our work into the world. What an important concept for every coach to understand! Communication is everything in our effectiveness with clients and our success in putting our message out. Join us to learn practical tips for upgrading your communication!
Bailey Massey is the owner and founder of Bailey Massey Global, located in Denver, CO. She uses her expertise and master’s degree in communication to help people understand the profound influence of our voices and the ways we communicate. Bailey customizes training and coaching needs for organizations and professionals to successfully support them in meeting their goals related to speech and communication clarity, accent and dialect coaching, vocal projection, public speaking, presentation skills, non-verbal communication, internal communication, trust and relationship building, leadership and development, executive communication, cross-cultural communication, and client relationships. In this conversation, she helps us learn how we can tailor what we do and say to show up with clarity in our communication.
420: Gratitude & Choice: Navigating Despair with Empowering Decisions with Meg Rentschler, MSW, PCC
In the face of life’s many ups and downs, how can we leverage gratitude, intention, and choice to face challenges and set our path forward? The reality is that despair and overwhelm can happen because so much of life is completely out of our control. How can we respond with empowering decisions instead of getting caught in the swirl of overwhelm and despair? The answer lies in adopting a mindset shift to embrace an attitude of gratitude, and this is a timely discussion for this week as we celebrate Thanksgiving here in the US. Join me for a closer look at today’s topic!
419: Unlocking Success: A Collaborative Conversation on Effective Coaching with Candy Motzek
Today’s episode is an experiment. We are having a joint collaborative conversation with a fabulous coach in Canada. We are interviewing each other for our podcasts, but we are doing it simultaneously. Join us as we explore the barriers that coaches hit, our passion for coaching, and details about the coaching partnership. Join us!
Candy Motzek is a coach, business mentor, and podcast host who is passionate about helping coaches launch successful businesses. Candy hosts the She Coaches Coaches podcast and has a unique background as a former senior leader in the corporate world. She brings a wealth of knowledge and actionable insight and her specialty is in empowering intelligent professionals to launch and grow successful coaching businesses. She uses this unique blend of practical strategies and mindset mastery to help clients achieve greater clarity. Her calming and personalized approach enables coaches to play bigger, find more clients, and create meaningful and profitable success.
417: Master Your Coaching Mindset with Ann Fogolin, MCC
I’m excited to bring you this conversation today! My guest and I are in perfect alignment regarding the value that coaching brings to the world and the importance of giving coaches the skills and techniques they need to partner with their clients. Let’s dive into the topic of your coaching mindset. Join us to learn more!
Ann Fogolin is a Master Certified Coach who has been working with, learning from, and growing with her clients for nearly 20 years. Like many coaches, Ann came from another career path to coaching; utilizing her background in education, she continues teaching coaches today at the University of Texas-Dallas. Her business, Becuz I Matter, focuses on leadership coaching, and she serves as an ICF Assessor to help new coaches on their journey. Our discussion centers around the relatively new coaching competency of “a coaching mindset” (added in 2019).
415: Strategic Self-Investment: Grow and Thrive with Meg Rentschler, MSW, PCC
When was the last time you decided to invest in yourself and felt good about how it moved the needle toward your goals? On the flip side, you may have felt disappointed when an investment turned out to be a waste of time and effort—and no one wants to feel that way. I believe there is a strategy to help us focus on opportunities to invest in ourselves that pay off and deliver the desired results. Let’s take a closer look!
412: Sacred Focus: Integrating Faith and ADHD Coaching with Heidi Fishbein, PCC
As a Christian, I want to have the right filter for information to help people in my community and my church community because there are so many families affected by diagnoses like ADHD, autism, and sensory processing issues. Many of these families are isolated without much support in place. We are talking about the importance of finding your ideal audience and the importance of the coaching partnership. Join us to learn more!
Heidi Fishbein is a sought-after ADHD coach, speaker, and Christian life coach. She holds a PCC through the ICF and is passionate about empowering women and families to navigate life’s challenges that come with ADHD. As the Assistant Director of Training at the International ADHD Coach Training Center, Heidi is an expert who teaches and mentors new coaches worldwide to become great coaches and create thriving, ethical coaching practices.
411: The Dangers of Knowing: How Curiosity Saves the Day with Meg Rentschler
You’ve heard the word curiosity mentioned here quite often. Because it’s an essential part of a coaching culture, curiosity is a topic that deserves a closer look. In this solo episode, we are diving into the concept of curiosity, what it means to be curious, and the pitfalls of “knowing” too much.
You’ll also hear practical tips for fostering curiosity, such as asking open-ended questions and active listening, which can improve effectiveness through curiosity. Join us!
408: Cure Your Busy Brain with Dr. Romie Mushtaq
No matter your profession or lifestyle, you would probably agree that stress levels are at an all-time high. In our post-pandemic world, we have “busy brains” that affect us personally and impact leadership at a crisis level in organizations. Join us for today’s episode to hear an actionable approach that individuals and leaders can implement immediately for immediate stress relief and long-term wellness.
Dr. Romie Mushtaq is a triple board-certified physician, award-winning speaker, and national media expert. She mixes her unique authority in neurology, integrative medicine, and mindfulness to transform cultures and teams. Serving as the Chief Wellness Officer at Great Wolf Resorts, she uses digital solutions for whole-person wellness for over 12,000 employees. She is a leading authority in stress management and workplace wellness leadership serving professional athletes, Fortune 500 companies, and global organizations. Her TEDx talk, “The Powerful Secret of Your Breath,” has over 500,000 views, and her book, The Busy Brain Cure, is a national USA Today and Amazon bestseller.
406: Listeners Unveil Greatest Lessons Learned
Welcome to a very special episode! I had planned to feature this live stream with listeners to celebrate the milestone of our 400th episode, but a family emergency preempted those plans. Never fear—we are making it happen now! Listeners share what’s made the show important to them and some of their favorite episodes, topics, and guests. Join us!
402: Transformative Leadership and Cultural Sensitivity with Mohamed Hamza, PCC
As coaches, we always strive to bring our best forward so we can partner with our clients to help them create the changes they want in their lives. Today’s expert guest is a renowned authority on leadership assessment and development. Join us to learn more about growing into your greatness and being the most effective executive coach you can be!
Mohamed Hamza is a facilitator, assessor, and coach with significant contributions in more than ten countries. He is the Senior Client Success Director for Mercer Talent Enterprise, where he assumes the crucial responsibility of designing, developing, and delivering cutting-edge leadership assessment and development solutions to esteemed clients. Mohamed has coached over 3000 leaders from future talent to C-suite executives. His extensive experience and continuous pursuit of knowledge position him as a leading figure in business and leadership, delivering exceptional value to his clients and organizations.
400: Embracing Courage with Dr. Eileen Forrestal
It’s our 400th episode! I had big plans for this episode, but circumstances have forced my plans to change; hopefully, we will be on track to celebrate this worthy milestone in a big way with a listener-focused livestream episode very soon. I can’t think of a better substitute than my friend, Dr. Eileen Forrestal. She joins us to talk about the concept of courage–and who doesn’t need a healthy dose of courage in today’s world? Join us!
Dr. Eileen Forrestal is a retired consultant anesthetist and the co-founder of Get Up and Go Publications Ltd, publisher of the award-winning inspirational Get Up and Go Diaries, Journals, and Events. Having spent 20 years “putting people to sleep,” Eileen is now at work “waking people up.” She is continually inspired to make a greater impact on personal health and well-being with words rather than drugs and one pair of hands. In her memoir, The Courage to Shine: Find Your Voice and Discover the Healing Power of Your Words, Eileen shares her personal story of “waking up” to encourage others to explore their authentic self-expression and engage in new conversations for wellbeing and vitality.
Plagued by a childhood stammer and a reluctance to speak publicly for many years, Eileen is now developing herself as a personal coach, entrepreneur mentor, and speaker to encourage others to overcome their fears and shine their light in the world. With a Foreword and enthusiastic endorsement by Jack Canfield, Eileen’s memoir touches on her challenging relationship with her mother, the source of her “yes” in life. Her upcoming book is Embrace the Edge: Life is Bigger When You Say Yes. An avid traveler with an adventurous spirit, Eileen’s thrill-seeking highlights include summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Everest base camp, cycling in Cambodia, rafting the Zambezi, riding an ostrich, and hypnotizing a chicken!
She is a recently accredited Thought Leader with the All-Ireland Business Foundation, and she liberally shares her thoughts through Sparkles of Wisdom and Pocket Pearls on social media platforms, blogs, and articles. She lives in the beautiful Northwest of Ireland with her beloved 10-year-old Cocker Spaniel, Kellie.
397: Avoid Coach Burnout with Dr. Zeina Ghossoub, MCC
Burnout is real, and coaches are not exempt. How can we effectively help others achieve growth and accomplish their goals if we are personally dealing with the symptoms of burnout? Today’s guest is a passionate expert on this topic, and she’s sharing helpful information and resources in this episode. Join us!
Dr. Zeina Ghossoub, a Master Certified Coach, has a Ph.D. in human behavior and counseling and co-founded Vital Signs, a coaching/consulting company with a global presence in Houston and Beirut. She is passionate about addressing burnout, especially among healthcare professionals and coaches. In this episode, Dr. Ghossoub identifies the red flags of burnout, the importance of wellness and emotional intelligence, and how to address burnout. She stresses the necessity of prioritizing self-care for coaches and shares helpful tools and resources.
392: Do Your Inner Work for Mastery with Annie Gelfand, MBA, MCC
In the most recent solo episode, I shared that a few changes are coming to the format of the STaR Coach Show, all of which are designed to enhance and improve the value to our audience. You’ll start to see some of those in today’s interview with Annie Gelfand, the co-creator and host of the Essence of Mastery Summit. She shares how the path of coaching mastery has the secret sauce it takes to help us be better human beings. If we want to change the world, we have to continue to grow in our coaching mastery! Join us to learn more!
Annie Gelfand is a Master Certified Coach (credentialed by the International Coach Federation), Advanced Certified Mentor Coach, and MCC Assessor. Coaching since 1997, she founded the Wisdom Foundation, a humanitarian, philanthropic, community-based, not-for-profit service, as well as Radical Wisdom and Reach Coaching Mastery. A corporate “survivor,” Annie has an MBA, is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach, Organizational and Relationship Systems and Teams Coach, and holds multiple holistic certifications. She is an avid lover of all things natural and nature, including pickleball, kayaking, swimming, biking, hiking, gardening, ping pong, and chess.
390: Embrace Change When It’s Right with Meg Rentschler, MSW, PCC
Today we are diving into the reality of change. It’s an inevitable part of evolving and growing, but we usually struggle to leave our comfortable patterns and routines to step into change. Why are we so naturally resistant? Let’s explore the challenge that comes from doing things differently and embracing change when it’s the right time to do so.
Keep in touch with the show
I would love to hear from you! If you have feedback on the show, ideas or who you would like to hear from or would like to schedule a no cost strategy session please let me know.
