793. What Conservative Thinking Can Teach Coaches About Human Behaviour- With Mark Walsh & Dr Helen Machen-Pearce
The Embodiment Coaching Podcast
Release Date: 10/13/2026
794. From Discipline to Embodiment: Lessons from Sport and Men’s Work - With Craig White
The Embodiment Coaching Podcast
In this episode, I speak with Craig White, leadership coach, men’s work facilitator, and author of Tell the Fucking Truth, about the transformative power of group work and why men can benefit so much from being seen by other men. Drawing on his experience in elite sport, embodiment, meditation, and men’s retreats, Craig shares what happens when people bring their shame, grief, anger, and vulnerability into a group where they can be witnessed without being rejected. We explore why group coaching can offer something that one-to-one work often cannot, from the permission to be fully human to...
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793. What Conservative Thinking Can Teach Coaches About Human Behaviour- With Mark Walsh & Dr Helen Machen-Pearce
The Embodiment Coaching Podcast
In this episode, I speak with Dr Helen Machen-Pearce about an often-overlooked perspective in coaching: what conservative philosophy can teach us about human behaviour, personal responsibility, and change. Drawing on philosophy, psychology, spirituality, and embodied practice, we explore why coaching has largely embraced liberal assumptions about the individual, and what might be missing when we focus primarily on personal freedom, self-expression, and psychological explanations. Together, we examine the differences between liberal and conservative approaches to human nature, discussing the...
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791. The Future of Coaching Is Systemic- With Peter Hawkins
The Embodiment Coaching Podcast
In this episode, I speak with Peter Hawkins, one of the pioneers of systemic and team coaching, about why coaching needs to evolve beyond a focus on the individual. Drawing on decades of experience in leadership development and organisational change, Peter argues that coaches create far greater impact when they work with the wider systems, relationships, and stakeholders that shape every client's world. Together, we explore what it means to think systemically, discussing why lasting change rarely happens in isolation and how coaches can shift from helping individuals achieve personal goals to...
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790. Is Everything Really Trauma? A Coach's Guide - With George Bonanno
The Embodiment Coaching Podcast
In this episode, I speak with Professor George Bonanno, one of the world's leading researchers on trauma and resilience, about why many of our assumptions about trauma are simply wrong. Drawing on decades of research and the ideas in his book The End of Trauma, George challenges the increasingly common belief that difficult experiences inevitably leave people psychologically damaged, arguing instead that resilience is the most common human response to adversity. Together, we explore what trauma actually is, how it differs from normal stress and emotional pain, and why it's important not to...
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789. The Biggest Burnout Myths (And What Actually Helps) - With Aljoša Bagola
The Embodiment Coaching Podcast
In this episode, I speak with author, speaker, and former creative director Aljoša Bagola about the myths that keep people trapped in burnout and why many of our assumptions about stress, success, and resilience are fundamentally wrong. Drawing on his own experience of severe burnout, alongside years of research and reflection, Aljoša challenges the stories our culture tells us about productivity, perfectionism, and what it means to be strong. Together, we explore why burnout isn't a sign of weakness but often the consequence of being highly driven, conscientious, and deeply committed. We...
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788. Crazy Successful: How Coaches Can Turn Their Weirdness Into an Advantage
The Embodiment Coaching Podcast
In this episode, I speak with entrepreneur, author, and coach John Spencer Williams about one of the biggest mistakes coaches make when building their businesses: trying to appeal to everyone. Drawing on his new book Crazy Successful, John explains why being broad, vague, and bland makes it harder to stand out, and why coaches are far more likely to succeed when they lean into what makes them different. Together, we explore the idea of becoming a "category of one" by finding a niche within a niche and creating something that only you can offer. John argues that the things we often try to...
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787. BONUS EPISODE - The 10 things to make a great coach training - With Mark Walsh & Dr Helen Machen-Pearce
The Embodiment Coaching Podcast
I believe a high-quality coaching certification needs to offer much more than coaching models, scripted questions and theoretical knowledge. It should develop practical coaching skills through live practice, feedback, ethical awareness, deep listening, strong relationships, appropriate challenge and an understanding of the person as a whole. In this episode of The Embodiment Coaching Podcast, I talk with Dr Helen Machen-Pearce about 12 essential elements of great coach training, and we explore how the Certification of Embodiment Coaching measures up. We discuss: what coaching is and how it...
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Special Announcement- With Mark Walsh
The Embodiment Coaching Podcast
Our Ceritficate of Embodiment coaching course is starting, don't miss out! Click here to find out more:
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786. IFS, Spirituality, and Psychological Healing - With Dr. Dick Schwartz
The Embodiment Coaching Podcast
In this episode, I speak with Dr Dick Schwartz, founder of Internal Family Systems (IFS), about the remarkable rise of one of the world's fastest-growing therapeutic approaches and the questions that come with its growing influence. Drawing on decades of clinical work and recent developments in the model, Dick reflects on how IFS has evolved beyond psychotherapy to embrace spirituality, leadership, and personal transformation. Together, we explore the foundations of IFS, the nature of the Self, and why relating compassionately to our inner parts can create profound psychological change. Dick...
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785. What Makes a Coach Irreplaceable? - With Lise Bruynooghe
The Embodiment Coaching Podcast
In this episode, I speak with executive coach Lise Bruynooghe about what coaching really is, why the profession is often misunderstood, and how coaches can thrive in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence. Drawing on her work across leadership, organisational development, and cross-cultural coaching, Lise argues that coaching is far more than a collection of techniques—it's a uniquely human way of helping people think, learn, and grow. Together, we explore what distinguishes skilful coaching from simply asking good questions, discussing the importance of presence, curiosity,...
info_outlineIn this episode, I speak with Dr Helen Machen-Pearce about an often-overlooked perspective in coaching: what conservative philosophy can teach us about human behaviour, personal responsibility, and change. Drawing on philosophy, psychology, spirituality, and embodied practice, we explore why coaching has largely embraced liberal assumptions about the individual, and what might be missing when we focus primarily on personal freedom, self-expression, and psychological explanations.
Together, we examine the differences between liberal and conservative approaches to human nature, discussing the role of virtue, discipline, tradition, boundaries, and personal choice in how people live and change. Mark challenges some of the dominant assumptions in modern coaching and psychology, asking whether an overemphasis on social conditioning and past experiences can leave too little room for agency, responsibility, and the possibility of choosing differently. The conversation also explores how our own political and philosophical beliefs shape the way we understand clients, and the risks of reducing people to ideological categories.
The discussion ultimately asks how coaches can develop a more complete understanding of human beings without becoming trapped in a single worldview. We explore how drawing on different philosophical and spiritual traditions can deepen empathy, broaden our perspective, and help us work more effectively with people whose values differ from our own. Whether you identify as conservative, liberal, or politically homeless, this episode offers a challenging invitation to question your assumptions and expand the perspectives you bring to your coaching.
Learn more about the Certification of Compassionate Conservative Coaching:
https://embodimentunlimited.com/compassionate-conservative-coaching/