The Embodiment Coaching Podcast

A weekly podcast for coaches, embodiment teachers and anyone who sees the body as more than a hunk of meat. Embodiment Unlimited host Mark Walsh, interviews leaders and innovators from around the world. We cover coaching, mindfulness, trauma therapy, martial arts, meditation, somatics, yoga, and movement practices generally. The flavour is light-hearted, conversational and practical. The podcast has been going for seven years and had over three million downloads.

788. Crazy Successful: How Coaches Can Turn Their Weirdness Into an Advantage 09/15/2026

788. Crazy Successful: How Coaches Can Turn Their Weirdness Into an Advantage 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 hide—our quirks, unconventional interests, personal experiences, neurodiversity, and even our perceived weaknesses—can become powerful sources of differentiation when understood and used well. We discuss why coaches shouldn't be afraid of being too specific, how to know whether a niche is viable, and why the goal isn't to appeal to everyone but to become deeply relevant to the right people. The conversation also explores perfectionism, self-sabotage, comparison, marketing, social media, and the importance of taking action rather than endlessly preparing. Mark and John discuss why coaches need to get real experience, test their ideas, pay attention to what clients respond to, and gradually double down on what they're good at and what people value. Whether you're starting a coaching business or looking to make an established practice more distinctive, this episode offers practical advice on finding your niche, embracing your personality, and turning your differences into a genuine competitive advantage. ----------------------------------------------- Become a certified embodiment coach. Coach beyond mere words and support clients to transform their lives: ----------------------------------------------- Check out our for more coaching tips and our for full episode videos ----------------------------------------------- Become a certified embodiment coach. Coach beyond mere words and support clients to transform their lives: ----------------------------------------------- Check out our for more coaching tips and our for full episode videos ----------------------------------------------- Become a certified embodiment coach. Coach beyond mere words and support clients to transform their lives: ----------------------------------------------- Check out our for more coaching tips and our for full episode videos /episode/index/show/embodimentpodcast/id/42909952

787. BONUS EPISODE - The 10 things to make a great coach training - With Mark Walsh & Dr Helen Machen-Pearce 09/12/2026

787. BONUS EPISODE - The 10 things to make a great coach training - With Mark Walsh & Dr Helen Machen-Pearce 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 differs from therapy, mentoring and consulting contracting, confidentiality, ethics and consent building strong coaching relationships deep listening and skilful communication working with goals without worshipping them why my own embodiment as a coach matters how to bring the body into coaching safely and practically nervous system literacy without oversimplification trauma awareness without pretending to provide trauma therapy neurodiversity and adapting coaching to the individual culture, identity, power and context why practice, feedback and peer learning are essential The Certification of Embodiment Coaching, or CEC, is a six-month live online embodiment coaching certification for coaches, facilitators, therapists who coach and body-based practitioners. In CEC, I teach practical ways to work with posture, breath, movement, attention, boundaries and nervous system state within coaching. Students experience the practices in their own bodies, learn how to bring them into real coaching conversations, practise with peers and receive direct feedback. Because understanding embodiment is not the same as being able to coach with it. The next CEC begins on 15 September 2026 and includes 37 ICF Continuing Coach Education hours. Learn more about the Certification of Embodiment Coaching: ----------------------------------------- Our Ceritficate of Embodiment coaching course is starting, don't miss out! Click here to find out more: /episode/index/show/embodimentpodcast/id/42883125

Special Announcement- With Mark Walsh 09/10/2026

786. IFS, Spirituality, and Psychological Healing - With Dr. Dick Schwartz 09/08/2026

785. What Makes a Coach Irreplaceable? - With Lise Bruynooghe 09/01/2026

784. The art of embodied group facilitation - With Mark Walsh & Dr Helen Machen-Pearce 08/25/2026

784. The art of embodied group facilitation - With Mark Walsh & Dr Helen Machen-Pearce In this episode, I speak with Dr Helen Machen-Pearce about the art of embodied group facilitation and why working with a group requires a very different set of skills from one-to-one coaching. Drawing on years of experience facilitating groups, we explore what happens when the focus shifts from an individual client to the complex dynamics of an entire group, including the importance of reading the room, tracking the group nervous system, and adapting in real time. Together, we examine the practical skills that distinguish effective group facilitation, from giving clear instructions and managing time to creating flow, setting boundaries, and ensuring that one participant doesn't dominate the experience of everyone else. We discuss the challenge of balancing individual needs with the needs of the group, as well as the cultural differences that influence who speaks, who takes space, and how people participate. Mark shares lessons from facilitating groups of anything from a handful of people to hundreds, while Helen reflects on the subtle skills involved in sensing and responding to group dynamics. The conversation also explores why group work can be such powerful training for coaches, developing skills in embodied leadership, intuition, regulation, and the ability to quickly sense what's happening in a room. We discuss the value of coaches experiencing group facilitation themselves, why working with diverse groups accelerates learning, and the particular challenges of bringing embodied group work online. Whether you're an experienced facilitator or a coach considering making the move into group work, this episode offers practical insights into how to create groups that are engaging, well-held, and genuinely transformative. ---------------------------------------------- Become a certified embodiment coach. Coach beyond mere words and support clients to transform their lives: ----------------------------------------------- Check out our for more coaching tips and our for full episode videos /episode/index/show/embodimentpodcast/id/42549165

783. How Childhood Shapes the Adults We Coach - With Paddy Ney 08/18/2026

782. Breathwork Beyond the Hype: Evidence, Coaching & Performance -With Richard Blake 08/11/2026

782. Breathwork Beyond the Hype: Evidence, Coaching & Performance -With Richard Blake In this episode, I speak with breathwork researcher and educator Richard Blake about what the evidence actually says regarding breathwork, nervous system regulation, and how coaches can use breathing practices safely and effectively. Drawing on both scientific research and practical experience, Richard separates hype from evidence and explores which techniques are supported by the strongest research. We discuss the different categories of breathwork, from calming, slower-paced breathing techniques to more activating practices, examining when each is appropriate and the physiological mechanisms behind their effects. Richard explains what current research tells us about stress, anxiety, emotional regulation, focus, and performance, while also highlighting the limitations of the evidence and the claims that often go beyond what the science can support. The conversation explores how coaches can integrate simple breathing practices into their sessions without becoming breathwork specialists, the importance of understanding contraindications and individual differences, and why matching the right technique to the client's needs matters more than following trends. We also discuss the physiological sigh, coherent breathing, carbon dioxide tolerance, and the relationship between breathing patterns, the nervous system, and emotional states. Along the way, we examine common misconceptions about breathwork, the growing research base in the field, critical thinking in wellbeing practices, and why an evidence-informed approach allows coaches to use breathwork with greater confidence, clarity, and care. ---------------------------------------------- Become a certified embodiment coach. Coach beyond mere words and support clients to transform their lives: ----------------------------------------------- Check out our for more coaching tips and our for full episode videos /episode/index/show/embodimentpodcast/id/42033680

781. Coaching Through the Meaning Crisis - With Brendan Graham Dempsey 08/04/2026

781. Coaching Through the Meaning Crisis - With Brendan Graham Dempsey In this episode, I speak with writer, researcher, and philosopher Brendan Graham Dempsey about the modern meaning crisis, why so many people feel disconnected from purpose and belonging, and what this means for coaches, leaders, and anyone supporting human development. Drawing on philosophy, psychology, history, and his work on metamodernism, Brendan explores how we arrived at this cultural moment—and how we might move beyond it. We discuss why questions of meaning increasingly show up in coaching conversations, even when clients initially present with goals around performance, relationships, or career. Brendan explains how the decline of shared cultural narratives has left many people searching for direction, and why coaches need to understand the wider social and philosophical context shaping their clients' lives. The conversation explores metamodernism as an emerging response to the limitations of both modern certainty and postmodern cynicism, offering a way of holding complexity without collapsing into either naïve optimism or nihilism. We discuss how coaches can help clients navigate uncertainty, cultivate purpose without imposing answers, and support meaningful growth in an increasingly fragmented world. Along the way, we explore identity, embodiment, belonging, political polarisation, social media, spirituality, and the balance between scepticism and hope. Ultimately, this episode is an invitation to think more deeply about what transformation really means—and why coaching may be as much about helping people orient themselves in a changing world as it is about achieving goals. ---------------------------------------------- Become a certified embodiment coach. Coach beyond mere words and support clients to transform their lives: ----------------------------------------------- Check out our for more coaching tips and our for full episode videos /episode/index/show/embodimentpodcast/id/42033615

780. Why Great Coaches Are Creative (Not Just Skilled)- With Mark Walsh & Dr Helen Machen-Pearce 07/27/2026

779. BONUS EPISODE! Stop making these somatic coaching mistakes - With Mark Walsh & Dr Helen Machen-Pearce 07/23/2026

778.The Hormonal Intelligence Coaches Need - With Harry Pitcher 07/21/2026

778.The Hormonal Intelligence Coaches Need - With Harry Pitcher In this episode, I speak with relationship educator Harry Pitcher, creator of the She's Not Crazy series, about the biology of relationships and why understanding women's hormonal cycles can transform the way we connect with one another. Drawing on years of research into neuroscience, endocrinology, and attachment, Harry explains why many relationship struggles are less about personality or communication skills than they are about biology that is rarely understood or talked about. We explore what this means for coaches, therapists, and anyone working with relationships, examining how hormones influence behaviour, emotional regulation, stress responses, and connection. Harry challenges the tendency to dismiss women's experiences as irrational, arguing instead that many patterns make perfect sense when viewed through the lens of physiology. Together, we discuss why a more embodied understanding of biology can replace blame with compassion and curiosity. The conversation also explores the differences between male and female nervous systems, the impact of menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and menopause on relationships, and why men often struggle to interpret changes that are deeply rooted in hormonal shifts rather than conscious choice. Mark brings both humour and scepticism to the discussion, questioning where biology ends and culture begins, and how coaches can work with these ideas without reducing people to hormones alone. Along the way, we discuss emotional regulation, attachment, communication, the importance of educating both men and women about hormonal health, and why understanding the body's rhythms may be one of the most practical—and overlooked—ways to create healthier relationships, more effective coaching, and deeper empathy. ----------------------------------------------- Become a certified embodiment coach. Coach beyond mere words and support clients to transform their lives: ----------------------------------------------- Check out our for more coaching tips and our for full episode videos /episode/index/show/embodimentpodcast/id/41973555

777. Awakening Without Escaping the Body - With Henry Shukman 07/14/2026

777. Awakening Without Escaping the Body - With Henry Shukman In this episode, I speak with Zen teacher, poet, and mindfulness app co-founder Henry Shukman about awakening, trauma, and the relationship between meditation and embodiment. Drawing on his own journey—from a childhood marked by chronic illness and emotional pain to a profound spontaneous awakening that led him to decades of Zen practice—Henry shares why genuine spiritual development is about becoming more fully human, not escaping our experience. We explore what this means for coaches and therapists, examining the relationship between awakening and psychological healing. Henry reflects on why insight alone is rarely enough, how trauma shapes the body long after the mind has moved on, and why contemplative practice and therapeutic work are most powerful when they support rather than replace one another. Together, we discuss the tension between transcendence and embodiment, the limits of spiritual bypassing, and the importance of integrating profound states into everyday life. The conversation also explores the role of poetry as a language for experiences that cannot easily be explained, the wisdom that lives beneath conceptual thinking, and what it means to trust a deeper intelligence than the analytical mind. Mark brings both curiosity and healthy scepticism to the discussion, questioning how non-dual insight relates to ordinary human struggles and how coaches can distinguish genuine presence from spiritual abstraction. Along the way, we discuss Zen practice, nervous system healing, the body's innate wisdom, the challenges of integrating transformative experiences, and why the deepest forms of awakening may not take us away from our humanity, but return us to it with greater compassion, intimacy, and freedom. ----------------------------------------------- Become a certified embodiment coach. Coach beyond mere words and support clients to transform their lives: ----------------------------------------------- Check out our for more coaching tips and our for full episode videos /episode/index/show/embodimentpodcast/id/41973500

776. Embodied Trauma Work in Times of War - With Kateryna Timakina 07/07/2026

776. Embodied Trauma Work in Times of War - With Kateryna Timakina In this episode, I speak with Ukrainian psychologist and trauma trainer Kateryna about what it means to practice embodiment, resilience, and trauma-informed care while living through the ongoing reality of war. Drawing on four years of frontline experience training therapists, healthcare professionals, lawyers, veterans, and humanitarian workers, Kateryna shares what she's learned about supporting others when safety is not something that can simply be restored. We explore what this means for coaches and therapists, examining the challenge of working with nervous systems that cannot fully leave survival mode. Kateryna reflects on the limits of conventional trauma models in the context of prolonged crisis, why self-regulation must become an everyday practice rather than a one-off intervention, and how embodiment helps practitioners stay connected to themselves while continuing to serve others. Together, we discuss burnout, sustainable helping, and the importance of building capacity rather than waiting for ideal conditions. The conversation also explores the personal impact of growing up professionally in the midst of war, the relationship between meaning and resilience, and how purpose can become one of our greatest psychological resources. Mark brings both warmth and curiosity to the discussion, asking how years of witnessing suffering, loss, and moral complexity have shaped Kateryna not only as a trauma specialist, but as a human being. Along the way, we discuss trauma-informed communication, working with veterans, the importance of community in recovery, the realities of long-term humanitarian work, and why embodiment offers more than regulation alone—it provides an anchor for meaning, connection, and the capacity to remain fully human in the most challenging of circumstances. ----------------------------------------------- Become a certified embodiment coach. Coach beyond mere words and support clients to transform their lives: ----------------------------------------------- Check out our for more coaching tips and our for full episode videos /episode/index/show/embodimentpodcast/id/41973155

775.The Coaching Paradox: Finding Transformation Through Stillness - With Nic Askew 06/30/2026

775.The Coaching Paradox: Finding Transformation Through Stillness - With Nic Askew In this episode, I speak with filmmaker and interviewer Nic Askew about presence, stillness, and what it means to truly see another human being. Drawing on decades of creating deeply intimate filmed conversations, Nic shares his perspective on why the most meaningful moments emerge not through technique or performance, but by letting go of agenda and allowing something authentic to unfold. We explore what this means for coaches, examining the paradox at the heart of coaching: while clients often come seeking outcomes, the greatest transformations frequently happen when neither coach nor client is striving to get somewhere. Nic explains why where we speak from matters more than what we say, and how genuine presence can create the conditions for insight that no framework or methodology can manufacture. The conversation also explores the relationship between stillness and identity, the difference between speaking from the thinking mind and speaking from a deeper place of awareness, and why experiences such as creativity, improvisation, and embodied coaching often feel as though they arise from something beyond conscious effort. Mark brings both curiosity and scepticism to the discussion, questioning whether such an intangible approach can be taught and how it fits within the realities of professional coaching. Along the way, we discuss the tension between process and presence, the challenge of communicating transformational work without overpromising outcomes, the role of uncertainty in coaching, and why creating space for people to encounter themselves may be one of the most powerful things a coach can offer. ----------------------------------------------- Become a certified embodiment coach. Coach beyond mere words and support clients to transform their lives: ----------------------------------------------- Check out our for more coaching tips and our for full episode videos /episode/index/show/embodimentpodcast/id/41905580

774. Coaching Across Cultures: What Every Coach Needs to Understand - With Tamara Tan 06/23/2026

774. Coaching Across Cultures: What Every Coach Needs to Understand - With Tamara Tan In this episoden, I speak with cross-cultural coach Tamara Tan about the often-overlooked role culture plays in coaching, communication, relationships, leadership, and personal development. Drawing on her experience living and working across multiple countries, Tamara explores how culture shapes the way people build trust, express emotions, communicate feedback, approach authority, and make sense of their identity. We discuss why coaching models that work well in one culture can fall flat in another, and why cultural awareness is becoming an increasingly important skill for coaches working in a globalised world. We dive into the differences between American, European, and Slavic cultures, exploring how attitudes towards success, self-promotion, responsibility, conflict, vulnerability, and personal growth are deeply influenced by cultural conditioning. Tamara explains why some clients expect direct challenge while others need greater relational safety, and how coaches can avoid projecting their own cultural assumptions onto the people they work with. The conversation also explores trust-building across cultures, the impact of collective history and social norms, the challenges of cross-cultural relationships, and why curiosity is one of the most valuable qualities a coach can develop. Along the way, we examine identity, belonging, stereotypes, multiculturalism, and the balance between recognising cultural differences without reducing people to cultural labels. ------------------------------------------- Check out our new Certification for Coaching Neurodivergent Clients ----------------------------------------------- Become a certified embodiment coach. Coach beyond mere words and support clients to transform their lives: ----------------------------------------------- Check out our for more coaching tips and our for full episode videos /episode/index/show/embodimentpodcast/id/41689945

773. How Coaches Can Stay Calm in a Dysregulated World - With Mark Walsh & Dr Helen Machen-Pearce 06/16/2026

772. Coaching for Meaning: Beyond Goals and Happiness - With Mark Walsh & Dr Helen Machen-Pearce 06/09/2026

771. Why coaches need shadow work -with Lucija Glagolic Hora 06/02/2026

770. Staying Human in the Age of AI - With Margaret Moore 05/26/2026

769. Coaching Through the Meaning Crisis- with Mark Walsh and Dr. Helen Machen-Pearce 05/19/2026

768. The Coaching Skill Nobody Wants to Practice - With Sean Fargo 05/12/2026

767. Embodiment and the Blind Spots in Modern Therapy - With Andrew Hartz 05/05/2026

766. Embodiment meets self-defense: training the body to say no - With Martijn Bos 04/28/2026

765. From Skills to Meaning: Rethinking Coaching Through Embodiment and Faith - With Chandler Stevens 04/21/2026

764. From Self-Regulation to Theoregulation: Expanding the Coaching Model - With Virginia Moutlia 04/14/2026

763. Why Modern Psychology Can’t Heal Us: Coaching, Virtue & Human Nature - With Daniel 04/07/2026

762. From Reaction to Relationship: The Art of Conscious Communication - WIth Jayaraja 03/31/2026

761. Why Aren’t People Having Kids? Meaning, Culture & Modern Life - With Mark Walsh & Dr Helen Machen-Pearce 03/24/2026

760. Coaching In The Presence Of Trauma: Boundaries, Confidence & Ethics - With Julia Vaughan Smith 03/17/2026

760. Coaching In The Presence Of Trauma: Boundaries, Confidence & Ethics - With Julia Vaughan Smith Julia Vaughan Smith joins me to explore what it really means to be a trauma-aware coach. We unpack the fear many coaches carry of getting it wrong, causing harm, or stepping outside their scope, and how that can undermine confidence. We look at the difference between working with trauma and working on trauma, and why coaching doesn’t need to become therapy to be effective. We also explore the shadow sides of both coaching and psychotherapy, the rise of popular approaches like parts work, and how to stay grounded in good practice. Towards the end, we dive into the powerful dynamics between mothers and daughters, trauma entanglement, and how early relationships shape identity and behaviour. Find out more about Julia's work here: . ----------------------------------------------- Julia Vaughan Smith is a master accredited coach and supervisor, a retired registered psychotherapist and an author of three books including ‘Coaching and Trauma’, one of the very few books that deals with this topic and ’Daughters: How to Untangle Yourself from your Mother’ which considers the trauma behind difficult and painful daughter/mother relationships and the entanglements that ensure. She has been teaching and talking about coaching and trauma since 2010 and ran Masterclasses with Jenny Rogers on the topic over several years. Other than coaching and psychotherapy, she has had a long and varied career. ----------------------------------------------- Join our membership program for coaches, facilitators, therapists and educators who want sustainable growth: ----------------------------------------------- Check out our for more coaching tips and our for full episode videos Uplevel your coaching with a free copy of Mark's latest eBook, Join Mark for those juicy Fancy some ? Connect with Mark Walsh on /episode/index/show/embodimentpodcast/id/40501690

The Embodiment Coaching Podcast

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