Coaches Rising

In this conversation with Elizabeth Oldfield we explore the role Christian values and practice can play in helping us move more gracefully through these times of divisiveness and polarization, and how to build spiritual core strength and transformation through community.Elizabeth Oldfield is an experienced leader, writer, consultant and podcast host with a passion for intelligent public engagement on issues of reconciliation, identity, and healing our common life. She is currently working with a range of organizations and individuals as a coach and consultant focused on building clarity, courage and connection. She is the host of The Sacred podcast and former director of Theos Think Tank, and appears regularly in the media, including BBC One, Sky News, the World Service, and The Financial Times. She is a regular conference speaker and chair. Before joining Theos in August 2011, Elizabeth worked for BBC TV and radio. She has an MA in theology from King’s College London.

In this short episode of the podcast, host Joel Monk reflects on two Substack articles by Peter Limberg that critique the coaching industry, and opens the conversation around what it means to be a coach as the occupation evolves in our fast-changing times.

In this very special conversation with Alexander Love we speak about the transformative experience of his father’s murder and how it shaped his life and his teachings, the process of restorative justice that Alexander participated in, seeing the virtue in the “other” and how turning towards our pain and acknowledging the unbroken dimension of being is the prerequisite for forgiveness. Alexander Love, M.Ac, PCC, NCC, is a renowned teacher, acupuncturist and coach. He is on faculty at the Newfield Network, a leading coach training organization. Alexander is a developmental coach who specializes in transformational shadow work. He works with a wide range of individuals spanning the developmental spectrum which includes providing support for those in the latest stages of human development. Currently, Alexander is working on a book that is a synthesis of eastern wisdom with western developmental research to provide the coach with a deep understanding of how we grow up through stages of meaning making and how this

In this conversation with Vivian Dittmar we explore the conscious release process, the relationship between emotional work and transpersonal self, how emotional release happens, transpersonal ways of knowing, and midwifing an evolutionary crisis. Vivian Dittmar is an author, wisdom teacher and founder of the Be the Change Foundation. Born in Germany, Vivian spent her childhood and youth on three continents, immersed in very diverse cultural and socio-economic contexts. This gives her a unique perspective on what it means to be human. Through her books, lectures, seminars and online offerings, she has been committed to a holistic development of people, society, economy and consciousness for over two decades. Her books include “The Emotional Backpack”, “The Power of Feelings“ and “Your Inner GPS“.

In this conversation with Bonnitta Roy we explore the mentality of crisis, the ledger function of the mind, our cultural habit of categorizing by splitting, the shift to “lyric culture”, the art of disclosure and abstraction and wholeness. Bonnitta Roy teaches insight practices for individuals who are developing meta-cognitive skills, and hosts collective insight retreats for groups interested in breaking away from limiting patterns of thought. She teaches a masters course in consciousness studies and transpersonal psychology at the Graduate Institute. Her teaching highlights the embodied, affective and perceptual aspects of the core self, and the non-egoic potentials from which subtle sensing, intuition and insight emerge. Bonnitta is the author of the popular Medium publication Our Future at Work. She is an associate editor of Integral Review where you can also find her articles on process approaches to consciousness, perception, and metaphysics.

In this conversation with coach and consultant Chris Alder we explore the concept of practice, how we create practices that are developmentally intelligent, working with metaphor, integration and somatic development, hot and cold zone practices and role modelling for our clients. Chris Alder is a partner at Evolution and has been working globally with executives and senior leaders for the past 12 years across a whole wide range of industries. He is passionate about helping leaders move beyond their current perspective and reality and transform themselves and their leadership in order to better navigate the complexities of the ever-changing business world. He completed his coaching studies with Integral Coaching Canada in their Master Coaching program and went on to train as faculty for them in 2015 where he now teaches their ICF accredited program in Europe and Canada. 

In this conversation with Dr. Robert Biswas-Diener we explore how we evaluate and evolve our coaching, the art of positive provocation, challenging coaching culture, owning our sovereignty in our coaching styles and the role of self-reflection and supervision. Dr. Robert Biswas-Diener is widely known as the “Indiana Jones of Positive Psychology” because his research has taken him to such far-flung places as Greenland, India, Kenya, and Israel. He is a leading authority on strengths, culture, courage, and happiness and is known for his pioneering work in the application of positive psychology to coaching. Robert has authored more than 60 peer-reviewed academic articles and chapters, two of which are “citation classics” (cited more than 1,000 times each). Dr. Biswas-Diener has authored seven books, including his most recent published in 2023, Positive Provocation.

In this conversation with spiritual teacher Thomas Huebl we explore the transformational containers we create with our clients, the three core pillars of the wisdom traditions, attuning to our clients, the individuation loop, and working from our leading edge. Thomas Hübl is a renowned teacher, author, and international facilitator whose lifelong work integrates the core insights of the great wisdom traditions and mysticism with the discoveries of science. Since 2004, he has taught and facilitated programs with more than 100,000 people worldwide, including online courses which he began offering in 2008. The origin of his work and more than two decades of study and practice on healing collective trauma is detailed in his book Healing Collective Trauma: A Process for Integrating Our Intergenerational and Cultural Wounds and his latest book is Attuned: Practicing Interdependence to Heal Our Trauma - And Our World.

In this conversation with Yannick Jacob we explore positive psychology and existentialism, prioritizing presence over process, phenomenological inquiry in coaching, integrating an existential approach and the limits and boundaries of coaching. Yannick Jacob is an Existential Coach (MA), Positive Psychologist (MSc), Coach Trainer & Supervisor (DIP) and Mediator (SPCP Dispute Resolution). He is the Program Director of the Accredited Certificate in Integrative Coaching at the School of Positive Transformation and he’s the former Programme Leader of the MSc Coaching Psychology at the University of East London. Yannick is part of the teaching faculty at the School of Life, the Animas Centre for Coaching and the International Centre for Coaching Supervision. He also presents at conferences internationally and is the author of An Introduction to Existential Coaching.

In this conversation with psychiatrist and author Dan Siegel we dive into the concept of self, exploring the lie of the solo self, other constructs of selfhood, psychological adaptations for seeking wholeness, verb versus noun-like personality and the center of belonging. Daniel J. Siegel, M.D., is an internationally acclaimed author, award-winning educator, and child psychiatrist. He is currently a clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine where he also serves as a co-investigator at the Center for Culture, Brain, and Development and co-director of the Mindful Awareness Research Center. He is also the Executive Director of the Mindsight Institute, an educational center devoted to promoting insight, compassion, and empathy in individuals, families, institutions and communities. His latest book is Personality and wholeness in therapy.

In this conversation with Dana Carman and Joel Yanowitz we explore the methodology of Wayfinding in which leaders encounter the mirror of nature, the power of threshold and ritual, nature as facilitator, and translating and integrating insights. Dana Carman is an expert in human and organizational transformation. Since 1984 he has worked as a senior advisor, consultant and executive coach to leaders of more than 200 visionary organizations on 5 five continents. Dana has co-founded two pioneering consultancies and trained and certified more than 500 consultant’s, coaches and change agents worldwide. In the last several years, Dana has co-founded the Action Inquiry Associates, and is an owner, board member and core faculty of MetaIntegral Academy which offers next generation leader development programs for executives and change agents from five continents. Joel Yanowitz is a leading consultant, executive coach and senior advisor renowned for his ability to help leaders accelerate progress on critical business c

In this conversation with Saniel Bonder and Linda Groves Bonder we explore the spirit/matter split, an integrative approach to spiritual inquiry, inner polarization, the core/heart wound, “second birth awakening” and the breadth of experience post awakening. Saniel Bonder is the co-founder of the Human Sun HEART Work. He has devoted his adult life first to a 20+ year spiritual quest and then to "democratizing enlightenment" by transmitting and teaching this work for more than three decades. As a prolific author, teacher, and coach, Saniel has helped high-performing teams and hundreds of individuals achieve their greatest potential. His books include Waking Down, Healing the Spirit/Matter Split, Great Relief, and The White-Hot Yoga of the Heart. Linda Groves-Bonder is the co-founder of the Human Sun HEART Work and has personally assisted many individuals into stable whole-being awakeness. A former professional artist, singer/songwriter, and actress, Linda holds a B.S. in Art Education from Ball State U

In this conversation with choreographer and performer Arawana Hayashi we explore the dynamic transformational possibilities of social presencing theater; bringing experience into expression, moving as a social body, harnessing social presence and speaking in shapes. Arawana Hayashi’s pioneering work as a choreographer, performer and educator is deeply sourced in collaborative improvisation. She currently heads the creation of Social Presencing Theater (SPT) for the Presencing Institute. Working with Otto Scharmer and colleagues at the Presencing Institute, she brings her background in the arts, meditation and social justice to creating “social presencing” that makes visible both current reality and emerging future possibilities. Her recent book, Social Presencing Theatre is available now.

In this conversation with coaching psychologist Wendy-Ann Smith we explore common ethical issues that arise in the coaching container, the foundations of ethical practice, personal development and integrity, and navigating ethics and AI. Wendy-Ann Smith, is a coaching psychologist, co-founder of the Coaching Ethics Forum and Visiting Fellow, Centre for Positive Psychology, Buckinghamshire New University, UK. Wendy-Ann runs virtual groups for coaches who wish to nourish themselves and their coaching. Wendy-Ann regularly coaches a small number of one-to-one clients. She designs and delivers lectures, trainings and workshops internationally in a variety of settings, including universities. Her two recent books are Positive Psychology Coaching in the Workplace (2021) and The Ethical Coaches' Handbook (2023).

In this conversation with bestselling author and hospitality maverick Chip Conley we explore the research that reveals surprising conclusions about when we are at our happiest in life and why, the “midlife crisis”, four types of transition, paths to purpose and the collective chrysalis of these times. Chip Conley is the New York Times bestselling author and hospitality maverick who helped Airbnb's founders turn their fast-growing tech start-up into a global hospitality brand. In Wisdom@Work: The Making of a Modern Elder, he shares his unexpected journey at midlife — from CEO to intern — learning about technology as Airbnb’s Head of Global Hospitality and Strategy, while also mentoring CEO Brian Chesky. Chip is the founder of the Modern Elder Academy, where a new roadmap for midlife is offered. He serves on the board of Encore.org and the advisory board for the Stanford Center for Longevity. Visit coachesrising.com to see our acclaimed online coach trainings and other offerings.

In this conversation with leadership coach Amanda Blake we explore including the body, the brain-body approach, the experiential field, embodied self-awareness and coaching and growing our capacity as coaches. Amanda Blake is a Leadership Coach, creator of the popular Body = BrainⓇ course on the neurobiology of experiential learning and author of the forthcoming book Your Body Is Your Brain. In addition to teaching about the art and science of embodiment, she works with leaders worldwide to help them become their best self, enjoy life more, and make a bigger contribution. She is a Master Somatic Leadership Coach and holds a degree in Human Biology from Stanford University. Head to our website to check out our new training programme, Re-imagine Leadership: www.coachesrising.com/reimagineleadership/

In this conversation with Abigail Lynam and Geoff Fitch of Pacific Integral we explore the concert of awakened wholeness, parts work and integration practices, tuning into collective intelligence, exploring co-emergence, healing within a collective and what is possible now. Abigail Lynam PhD is faculty for Fielding University’s PhD program in Human and Organizational Development and for Pacific Integral’s Generating Transformative Change leadership development program in Seattle and Ethiopia. Abigail’s scholarship and practice integrates the interior dimensions of human knowledge and experience with adult learning, leadership development, and social and ecological change work. Abigail is a skilled facilitator, developmental scorer, debriefer, and coach, teacher of awareness, shadow, and embodiment practices, and facilitator of Work that Reconnects. Geoff Fitch MA is a founding partner of Pacific Integral. Geoff is a coach, trainer, and facilitator of transformative growth in individuals and organizations. He

In this conversation with leadership expert Peter Hawkins we explore the role of coaching in these times, the limits of AI coaching, wide-angled empathy, systemic coaching and helping organizations embrace the unknown. Peter Hawkins is Professor of Leadership at Henley Business School University of Reading UK and Emeritus Chairman of Bath Consultancy Group, where for the last 25 years he has been helping organizations in many parts of the world connect their strategic change, their organizational culture and their leadership development. He has written extensively about leadership, leadership teams, coaching and supervision. He is visiting professor at the universities of Bath and Oxford Brookes, and chairs Renewal Associates and Connect Assist. Visit coachesrising.com to see our acclaimed online coach trainings and other offerings.

In this conversation with Lynda Caesara we explore the nature of the human energy field, how we can work with it as coaches, the chakra system, how to hold energy fields, the five patterns of energetic dysfunction and the Four Directions container. Lynda Caesara attended Berkeley Psychic Institute in 1974, the Heartsong Psychic Institute from 1975 to 1977, and went on to teach at Heartsong for six years. She spent two years studying Christian mysticism before beginning Shamanic practice in 1982, which has developed over the years to form the backbone of her instructional method. Lynda has also been active in bodywork from 1975 to present, studying and integrating techniques from Lauren Berry, John Upledger, Jean-Pierre Barral, Sharon Weiselfish-Giammatteo, and Frank Lowen into her practice. She has been teaching ongoing Energy Classes and workshops since 2001. Visit coachesrising.com to see our acclaimed online coach trainings and other offerings.

In this conversation with Dr John Churchill we explore the current meta-crisis from the perspective of planetary and human dharma, the value of different developmental approaches and how to integrate them, contemplative engineering, and becoming a planetary Bodhisattva. BIO Dr. John Churchill is a Doctor of Psychology and teacher of Buddha Dharma as well as a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine and author. John’s interest in psycho-spiritual development, Integral theory, Contemplative studies, Western Esotericism, and Mahayana Buddhism began in his adolescence, leading him to spend several years as a Buddhist monk at Samye Ling Monastery in Scotland. During this time, John received the esoteric Planetary Dharma transmissions that would in time unfold as his contribution to a planetary fourth turning teaching. He is also a founding member of the Integral Institute. Visit coachesrising.com to see our acclaimed online coach trainings and other offerings.