Why Smart Coaches Still Freeze on Calls (And How We’re Fixing It) The Missing Link Between Knowing and Coaching Well
Release Date: 02/03/2026
Why Smart Coaches Still Freeze on Calls (And How We’re Fixing It) The Missing Link Between Knowing and Coaching Well
The Art & Skill of Coaching
Coaches are consuming more content than ever—books, podcasts, trainings—and yet many still freeze on calls, overthink what to say next, or default to advice-giving when clients get emotional or stuck. In this episode of The Art and Skill of Coaching, I name the skill gap most coaches feel but can’t articulate: the gap between knowing coaching concepts and being able to execute them cleanly in real time. I’m joined by Cat—ASC graduate, peer coach, and collaborator inside The Art & Skill of Coaching—who helps break down why content consumption doesn’t create mastery, and what...
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Is a Coaching Certification Worth It? A Real ASC Student Breaks Down Her Experience
The Art & Skill of Coaching
What actually changes when you invest in a high-level coaching certification? In this episode of The Art and Skill of Coaching, I’m joined by one of my current Art and Skill of Coaching (ASC)students—just one month away from graduation—who shares an honest, behind-the-scenes look at her experience inside the program. Jess is a holistic wellness coach with 15 years of experience bridging nutrition, fitness, and mindset. Despite her background, she noticed clear gaps in her coaching skills, confidence, and session effectiveness—gaps that ultimately led her to ASC. We talk about: The...
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The Kind of DEEP Coaching That Actually Creates Lasting Change
The Art & Skill of Coaching
Why do some clients change—and others stay stuck? In this episode, I break down the difference between surface-level coaching and deep, identity-based coaching, and why working at the level of being creates more sustainable results than focusing on behavior alone. You’ll learn: Why deep coaching is nonlinear and messy The skills coaches need beyond basic techniques How identity shifts naturally change behavior Questions that immediately deepen your coaching This is the work we teach inside The Art & Skill of Coaching—psychologically grounded, science-based, and...
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You’re Not Lazy—You’re Stuck in Movement (Here’s How to Create Momentum)
The Art & Skill of Coaching
Feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and frustrated—even though you’re working hard? You’re not broken. You’re not on the wrong path. You’re likely stuck in movement instead of momentum. In this episode, I explain: Why thinking, processing, and preparing can actually keep you stuck How movement feels productive but doesn’t create results The coaching mistake that leads to burnout and stagnation How to shift into momentum through aligned, imperfect action Whether you’re a coach or a high-performing professional, this episode will change how you approach growth, change, and...
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Ask Me Anything: Coaching, Business, Money, and Life as a Therapist-Turned Coach
The Art & Skill of Coaching
In this special Ask Me Anything episode, Jess DeMarchis—therapist-turned life coach—kicks off the new year by answering your most asked questions about coaching, business, money, and personal growth. Pulled directly from Instagram DMs, Jess is interviewed by her friend Megan in an honest, fun, and wide-ranging conversation that blends personal stories with professional insight. Together, they cover everything from Jess’s early leadership influences and favorite coaches, to why she transitioned from therapy to coaching, how she runs her coaching business, and how she thinks about money,...
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Master Coach Series (Ep. 4): Why You’re Not Improving as a Coach — And How to Accelerate Your Mastery
The Art & Skill of Coaching
Description: In this episode of The Art & Skill of Coaching, Jess breaks down the fastest and most evidence-based way to develop coaching mastery. If you’ve ever wondered why you’re not improving as quickly as you want — or why practice alone isn’t enough — this episode explains the exact path professional coaches use to grow. You’ll learn: why information and inspiration don’t lead to real skill the Learn → Witness → Practice framework for building mastery how supervised coaching accelerates your growth the difference between repetition and correct repetition ...
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Master Coach Series (Ep. 3): How the Best Coaches Create Faster, Deeper Change
The Art & Skill of Coaching
Description: What separates a good coach from a master-level coach? In this episode of The Art & Skill of Coaching, Jess breaks down the psychology-based tools, trauma-informed frameworks, and advanced questioning techniques that Master Coaches use to create deep, identity-level change with their clients. You’ll learn: The 3 things Master Coaches do differently in every session How interventions like Thought Clearing (CBT) and Motivation Mapping (MI) actually work What trauma-informed coaching looks like—and why it matters How great coaches ask questions that shift perspectives...
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Master Coach Series (Ep. 2): 7 Coaching Mistakes Keeping Your Clients Stuck (and How Master Coaches Avoid Them)
The Art & Skill of Coaching
Description: Most coaches genuinely want to help—but good intentions don’t override impact. In this Master Coach Series episode celebrating 200+ podcast episodes, Jess breaks down the seven coaching mistakes even well-trained coaches are unintentionally making that keep clients stuck. These mistakes show up across every niche—from life coaching to business coaching. Inside this episode, you’ll learn how to coach at a higher, more effective, more ethical level by avoiding the patterns that derail client progress. You’ll learn: Why cheerleading actually prevents transformation How...
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Master Coach Series (Ep. 1): 4 Skills Coaches Think They Have… But Don’t
The Art & Skill of Coaching
Description: Welcome to Episode 1 of the 4-part Master Coach Series, celebrating 200 episodes of The Art and Skill of Coaching— a top 2% global podcast dedicated to psychology-based coaching. Today, we’re kicking off the series with a foundational episode: The 4 core skills most coaches think they have… but don’t. Because while empathy, intuition, and “holding space” matter, they are not what create consistent, repeatable change. Coaching is a skill set rooted in psychology, neuroscience, and evidence-based methods — and in this episode, you’ll learn the exact skills that...
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I’ve Been Fired by Clients — Here’s What It Taught Me About Coaching (No One Talks About This)
The Art & Skill of Coaching
Description: Yes — I’ve been fired by clients. And after 10+ years as a therapist-turned-coach, I’m telling you why this isn’t a failure… and what great coaches do differently. In this episode, we break down the psychology behind client ruptures, refund requests, mismatches, and conflict inside the coaching relationship. You’ll learn how to prevent and navigate difficult client dynamics with clarity, leadership, and actual coaching skill. Learn more about The Art & Skill of Coaching certification: ASC Waitlist: Stay in Touch: IG...
info_outlineCoaches are consuming more content than ever—books, podcasts, trainings—and yet many still freeze on calls, overthink what to say next, or default to advice-giving when clients get emotional or stuck.
In this episode of The Art and Skill of Coaching, I name the skill gap most coaches feel but can’t articulate: the gap between knowing coaching concepts and being able to execute them cleanly in real time.
I’m joined by Cat—ASC graduate, peer coach, and collaborator inside The Art & Skill of Coaching—who helps break down why content consumption doesn’t create mastery, and what actually makes coaching skills stick.
We discuss:
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Why freezing on calls isn’t a confidence or motivation problem—it’s a training problem
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The difference between understanding coaching theory and being able to coach live
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Why mastery is an embodied skill (and how therapists and elite performers are actually trained)
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Inside the new ASC Intervention Library and how it teaches coaches how to coach, not just what to know
If you’ve ever thought, “I know this… why can’t I do it on a call?”—this episode will make it click.
Learn more about The Art & Skill of Coaching certification:
https://www.jessicademarchis.com/the-art-skill-of-coaching
ASC Waitlist:
https://purple-lion-72607.myflodesk.com/ascwaitlist
Stay in Touch:
IG @jess_demarchis_coaching
The Coach Skill Audit:
https://purple-lion-72607.myflodesk.com/coachskillaudit
Coach Question of the Week:
https://purple-lion-72607.myflodesk.com/agcj1mr1y3
Catherine’s IG: @cat_farrell_lifecoach
Why Intuition Isn’t Coaching: How to Spot and Stop Projection in Sessions (Episode 181): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-art-skill-of-coaching/id1612960277?i=1000719596313