The Coach Who Deeply Listens: Finding Meaning in Every Story with Jody Kubo

Today on The Love of Coaching Podcast, we’re joined by someone who embodies the quiet, powerful art of presence in coaching, Jody Kubo.Jody is an ANZCAL Certified Professional Coach, an NLP Coach Practitioner, and a Certified Professional and Pastoral Supervisor through Morling College. With training grounded in globally recognised coaching standards and advanced coaching techniques, Jody brings both professional rigour and deep humanity to his work.But if you ask Jody about his coaching philosophy, he won’t start with a framework or a model.Instead, he might tell you a story about a small diner in Tokyo.In the Netflix series Midnight Diner, the owner simply says: “I make whatever customers ask for, as long as I have the ingredients.”The diner is simple, quiet, and unassuming. People arrive late at night carrying stories, questions, and pieces of their lives. The cook - known only as Master - listens deeply, asks the occasional question, and somehow, through that presence, something meaningful unfolds.For Jody, coaching works much the same way.It’s not about the coach becoming the centre of the story. It’s about creating a space where people feel heard, where deeper meaning emerges, and where insight quietly takes shape.Like the Midnight Diner, Jody’s coaching space is one where people arrive as they are, and leave feeling nourished, understood, and often seeing their path forward more clearly.Today we’re exploring how coaches can listen more deeply, honour the stories behind the words, and rediscover the quiet power of presence in coaching.5 Key Highlights from the podcastGreat coaches are often shaped by great coaches - Jody traces his passion for developing people back to a coach he had growing up. This coach believed in him, inspired him to perform beyond his perceived ability, and showed him the power of encouragement. That early experience planted the seed for Jody’s lifelong desire to invest in others.Coaching is about seeing the person, not just the task - Through his work in teaching, leadership development, and mentoring, Jody discovered that directive leadership only goes so far. Coaching takes a longer view of the person, helping individuals grow in awareness, confidence, and capability rather than simply telling them what to do. Deep listening reveals the real story - One of Jody’s central coaching beliefs is that clients often arrive with a surface-level issue, but through patient listening and thoughtful questions, deeper meaning emerges. True coaching happens when the coach listens without judgment and allows the client’s story to unfold.The coach should never be the centre of the story - Jody emphasises that the gift of coaching is presence. Like the “Master” in the Midnight Diner metaphor he shares, a coach creates a space where people feel heard and understood. The coach guides the conversation but allows the client to remain the central character of their own journey.Coaching is about creating a space where people belong - At its heart, Jody’s work is about building a community where people feel welcomed, supported, and empowered. Just like the diner in his metaphor, coaching becomes a place where people can arrive as they are, explore their story, and leave with greater clarity and confidence about their next steps.Learn more from Jody w - www.kubolifecoaching.com.au- Diner for the Soul: expresses the Kubo Life Coaching vibe and philosophyhttp://eepurl.com/jb1odYPower of words - The story of the English professor Jody shared in the podcasthttp://eepurl.com/i-b7GY