The Courageous Coach Podcast

In this season finale of the Courageous Coach Podcast, host Melissa Hague steps back for a solo reflection on the core theme of the past series: Grounded Confidence. Moving away from high-energy finales, this episode offers a slower, deeper exploration of what it means to come back to your own ground rather than constantly reaching for something new.Melissa weaves together the insights shared by her season guests, exploring how values, emotional agility, mindfulness, and embodiment all intersect to create a practice of courage in coaching and life.Key TakeawaysDefining Grounded Confidence: Drawing on Brené Brown’s definition, Melissa describes it not as posturing or arrogance, but as a state built on self-awareness, courage, and the "quiet joy of mastery"Values as Anchors: A look back at the conversation with Jane Gilham on how values steady us during times of grief and uncertainty, acting as directions rather than rigid directives.Practical Emotional Agility: Melissa reflects on her experience with Susan David’s work and a conversation with Donna Ward Higgs, highlighting the importance of noticing when we are "hooked" by stories and learning to open up the space between stimulus and response.Micro-Mindfulness: Inspired by guest Emily Young, Melissa discusses building the "mindfulness muscle" through ordinary moments—like boiling a kettle—rather than relying solely on formal, hour-long practices.The Myth of the Mastery Endpoint: A reflection on the episode with Claire Norman regarding the professional pressure of accreditation. Mastery is reframed as a "forever practice" and a devotion to one's craft rather than a final destination.Reflective Questions for the Listener"What do you return to when things feel difficult?" "Where could mindfulness be made smaller and more livable for you?" "Where am I practicing rather than performing?" "What does grounded confidence look like for me right now, in this moment?" Grounded confidence isn't a badge to be claimed; it is something lived through patience, compassion, and staying connected to oneself. Thank you for walking through Season 3 with us—we look forward to continuing the journey in Season 4.Go Deeper with The Courageous Coach ProgramIf these conversations are resonating, you might be ready to go deeper. The Courageous Coach program is designed for qualified coaches in the early years of building their independent practice. If you want to coach with more courage, clarity, and humanity and grow a business that truly reflects who you are, this is for you.You can find all the details here: https://www.melissahague.com/courageous-coachesConnect with MelissaCome and find Melissa on LinkedIn. Whether you have questions about the program, want to share what resonated from this episode, or just fancy a chat, she'd love to connect.Support the Podcast:Follow & Subscribe: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe so you don't miss what's coming next.Share with a fellow coach: Know someone who could use a little courage boost? Pass this episode on—courage is contagious, after all.Thanks again for listening. Until next time, stay curious, stay human and keep choosing courage.

About the GuestClare Norman is a Master Certified Coach (MCC) with the International Coaching Federation, possessing over 20 years of coaching experience. She is dedicated to enabling people to feel truly seen for who they are and empowers individuals to find their authentic voice. In addition to her work challenging leaders to prioritise people alongside profits, Clare specialises in mentor coaching and coaching supervision to help fellow coaches sharpen their edge and stay safe and sane. A prolific writer, speaker, and thought leader, Clare has authored several books, including Mentor Coaching: A Practical Guide, The Transformational Coach, Cultivating Coachability, and her latest, Love as a Revolutionary Coaching Practice, due for publication in October 2026. She lives in the New Forest, Hampshire, with her husband and bloodhound.You can connect with Clare here:Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.clarenormancoachingassociates.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clare-norman-mccAbout the EpisodeWelcome to Episode 32 of the Courageous Coach podcast! In this episode, host Melissa Haigh is joined by Master Certified Coach Clare Norman to explore the profound, elusive, and continuous journey of mastery in coaching.Together, Melissa and Clare unpack why mastery isn't a final destination or a simple tick-box exercise, but rather an "amorphous blob" that shifts as we grow. They discuss the exhausting yet joyful reality of doing the inner work, and why true development requires us to step outside of our coaching bubbles to embrace our full, messy humanity.Key topics explored in this episode include:Beyond Competencies: Why coaches must learn their tools and frameworks well, but ultimately transcend them to bring humanity, love, and soul-to-soul connection into the coaching space.Who We Are is How We Coach: Exploring Edna Murdoch's philosophy and understanding why integrating therapy, such as Gestalt or shadow work, is crucial for getting our own blocks out of the way.Unconventional Development: How unexpected hobbies profoundly shape our coaching presence—from watercolour painting (learning to let go of control) and choir singing (practising harmonious partnership) to weightlifting (building postural strength) and line dancing (embracing courage and playfulness).Vertical vs. Horizontal Growth: Why the journey to mastery isn't just about accumulating more tools or taking another content-heavy course (horizontal growth), but rather diving into the sometimes uncomfortable depths of self-awareness (vertical growth).Deliberate Development: The importance of intentionally planning your personal evolution each year rather than just checking off required continuing education hours, and why this challenging path of mastery is one you should never walk alone.If you've ever felt boxed in by coaching rules or exhausted by the endless pursuit of getting it "right," this conversation is a much-needed breath of fresh air. It is a powerful reminder that committing to mastery is about embracing your glorious humanity, finding joy in the practice, and trusting the process. Tune in to discover why sharpening your edge might just look like picking up a paintbrush or putting on your dancing shoes!Go Deeper with The Courageous Coach ProgramIf these conversations are resonating, you might be ready to go deeper. The Courageous Coach program is designed for qualified coaches in the early years of building their independent practice. If you want to coach with more courage, clarity, and humanity and grow a business that truly reflects who you are, this is for you.You can find all the details here: https://www.melissahague.com/courageous-coachesConnect with MelissaCome and find Melissa on LinkedIn. Whether you have questions about the program, want to share what resonated from this episode, or just fancy a chat, she'd love to connect.Support the Podcast:Follow & Subscribe: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe so you don't miss what's coming next.Share with a fellow coach: Know someone who could use a little courage boost? Pass this episode on—courage is contagious, after all.Thanks again for listening. Until next time, stay curious, stay human and keep choosing courage.

About The Guest:Emily Young is a Coach with over 20 years of experience, having begun her life-coaching journey two decades ago. Today, Emily specialises in anxiety and wellbeing coaching, splitting her time between her private practice and working with a local hospice, where she supports the wellbeing of staff and volunteers. Passionate about all things human, Emily is deeply interested in helping people understand themselves - including how their brain and physiology work - so that individuals can learn to work with themselves. Her coaching approach supports balance, peace, and a deeper realisation of an individual’s unique self.You can connect with Emily here:LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mylifecoaching Instagram: @anxietybustingwithemily Facebook: www.facebook.com/anxietybustingwithemily Website: www.mylifecoaching.co.uk Email: [email protected] the Episode:In this episode, host Melissa Haig sits down with Emily Young to explore the vital role of mindfulness in coaching and how it helps us cultivate grounded confidence. Together, they delve into the importance of slowing down to show up at our best, and how being truly present can transform our coaching practice.Key topics explored in this episode include:Redefining Mindfulness: Emily breaks down the myth that mindfulness is about emptying the mind, explaining that it is not the absence of thinking, but rather the presence of awareness and paying attention non-judgmentally.The Neuroscience of Presence: How over-thinking activates our stress response, and how dropping into a mindful state helps dial down the emotional brain so our rational brain can make magical, creative connections with our clients.Habit Stacking: Practical advice on how to integrate mindfulness into your everyday routine - like washing the dishes or brushing your teeth - so that your brain easily remembers the pathway to a calm state when you actually need it.The Power of the Breath: Why simply noticing your breath, particularly focusing on a longer out-breath, is an incredible "hack" to signal safety to your nervous system and instantly regulate your state.Soaking in the "Glimmers": The importance of taking a mindful moment after a coaching session to intentionally focus on what went well, counteracting our evolutionary negativity bias and actively building self-trust.Observer Mode: How doing a quick physical check-in allows you to observe your thoughts and bodily tension without judgment, freeing you from believing unhelpful narratives and fostering deep self-compassion.If you've ever felt caught in a relentless cycle of "thinking, thinking, thinking" before or during your coaching sessions, Emily's compassionate and deeply practical approach is the perfect antidote. Whether you are making your morning coffee, brushing your teeth, or just taking a deep breath, this episode will inspire you to weave small, powerful moments of mindfulness into your everyday routine. Tune in to discover how simply "checking in" can transform not just your coaching practice, but your entire way of being.Go Deeper with The Courageous Coach ProgramIf these conversations are resonating, you might be ready to go deeper. The Courageous Coach program is designed for qualified coaches in the early years of building their independent practice. If you want to coach with more courage, clarity, and humanity and grow a business that truly reflects who you are, this is for you.You can find all the details here: https://www.melissahague.com/courageous-coachesConnect with MelissaCome and find Melissa on LinkedIn. Whether you have questions about the program, want to share what resonated from this episode, or just fancy a chat, she'd love to connect.Support the Podcast:Follow & Subscribe: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe so you don't miss what's coming next.Share with a fellow coach: Know someone who could use a little courage boost? Pass this episode on—courage is contagious, after all.Thanks again for listening. Until next time, stay curious, stay human and keep choosing courage.

About the GuestAlison Roberts is a qualified executive coach, senior Learning and Development professional, and the founder of Comms Lab. Throughout her diverse career, which spans roles from Sales Director to Founder to Trainer, she has focused on cultivating the essential "human skills that AI can never replicate," such as intuition, listening, empathy, and connection. Her deep-seated curiosity and desire to understand the multiple levels of human communication have been a guiding force in her life.About the EpisodeIn this episode, Melissa is joined by Alison Roberts to explore the transformative power of curiosity in coaching and developing grounded confidence.If you've ever been told you "need to be more curious" or "ask better questions"—and wondered how to actually do that—this episode is for you. Melissa and Alison discuss how curiosity isn't just a coaching tool, but a courageous way of living that requires us to unlearn the corporate conditioning that rewards being a "knower" rather than a "learner".Key topics explored in this episode include:The "Say-Do" Gap: Why simply telling someone to "be more curious" is a meaningless instruction without actionable steps.Re-framing Vulnerability: How focusing on being in service to your client can help bypass the discomfort of vulnerability, allowing you to ask the difficult questions.The Link Between Playfulness and Curiosity: The importance of being fascinated by the world around you and embracing a childlike state of free play.Unlearning the "Knower" Mindset: The struggle of transitioning from a corporate environment that praises expertise to a coaching space that requires you to sit with not knowing.Sitting with Discomfort: Why coaches must practice sitting with discomfort in all areas of their lives, and how stepping out of your comfort zone builds true agility.Beating to Your Own Drum: Embracing the intention to live authentically and asking yourself, "Will I regret this if I don't do it?".Whether you are seeking to deepen your coaching practice or find new ways to connect authentically in your business and life, this conversation offers an inspiring look at the courage it takes to remain curious. Find Alison Online:https://alisonroberts.my.canva.site/leading-with-connectionhttps://comms-lab.com/https://tidycal.com/commslab/30-minute-meeting Go Deeper with The Courageous Coach ProgramIf these conversations are resonating, you might be ready to go deeper. The Courageous Coach program is designed for qualified coaches in the early years of building their independent practice. If you want to coach with more courage, clarity, and humanity and grow a business that truly reflects who you are, this is for you.You can find all the details here: https://www.melissahague.com/courageous-coachesConnect with MelissaCome and find Melissa on LinkedIn. Whether you have questions about the program, want to share what resonated from this episode, or just fancy a chat, she'd love to connect.Support the Podcast:Follow & Subscribe: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe so you don't miss what's coming next.Share with a fellow coach: Know someone who could use a little courage boost? Pass this episode on—courage is contagious, after all.Thanks again for listening. Until next time, stay curious, stay human and keep choosing courage.

About  the Guest:What if all leaders and organisations oriented towards positive social impact and serving life?If we emphasised connection and being, not separation and doing? What gifts and potential are we not accessing? Glyn offers compassionate guidance and companionship as people step into the questions and conversations that are urgently needed. A space to slow down, sort through mess, question conditioning and habits, be vulnerable. To explore the living systems within and around us, and the unseen energy, processes and blocks which shape behaviour. Exploring different ways of sensing, being and knowing through body and mind, Glyn invites people to expand space and ease constriction. Space where we feel and see more clearly, where possibility and potential flow, where we can step into purposeful, life-affirming action. The joy of life, nature, belief in human potential and the wounds of lived experience (organisations, life burnout, multiple life transformations) inform Glyn’s work, which evolves as he integrates new learning and experience. Glyn brings over 10 years’ as an international coach, facilitator, mediator, organisation development consultant and charity board member. This builds on a diverse 20-year international career in leadership, strategy, change and operations, including over a decade as a diplomat. He is based between Hamburg and Devon. Always open to a chat to explore life, contact Glyn at:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/glynbottrell/Email: [email protected] the Episode:In this episode, host Melissa is joined by Glyn Bottrell to explore the concept of embodiment and why it is a crucial element in fostering courageous coaching and developing grounded confidence.Melissa and Glyn have a candid and curious conversation about the modern trap of living entirely in our heads, often ignoring the early warning signals our bodies send us. They delve into the ongoing journey of integrating embodiment into daily coaching practices and the absolute necessity of staying present and connected during client sessions.Key topics explored in this episode include:Knowledge vs. Embodied Wisdom: The critical difference between learning a coaching tool intellectually and truly practising it as a "way of being".The Body's Truth: Acknowledging that while the head is quick to create false stories and interpretations, the body can only signal the truth of our present physical experience.Early Warning Signals: How to tune into subtle physiological cues to catch old, unhelpful patterns before they take over your reactions.Developing Granularity: Expanding emotional literacy by slowing down to feel the exact physical location and temperature of an emotion, rather than just throwing it into a broad bucket like "angry".Accessible Grounding: Simple, immediate practices for regulating yourself mid-session—such as feeling your feet on the floor, your bum in the chair, and connecting with your breath—without needing to step away to meditate.Tracking Your Energy: Using physical sensations to determine if your coaching is serving the client or your own ego, specifically noting if you feel grounded in your belly versus anxious and "fizzy" in your head.Go Deeper with The Courageous Coach ProgramIf these conversations are resonating, you might be ready to go deeper. The Courageous Coach program is designed for qualified coaches in the early years of building their independent practice. If you want to coach with more courage, clarity, and humanity and grow a business that truly reflects who you are, this is for you.You can find all the details here: https://www.melissahague.com/courageous-coachesConnect with MelissaCome and find Melissa on LinkedIn. Whether you have questions about the program, want to share what resonated from this episode, or just fancy a chat, she'd love to connect.Support the Podcast:Follow & Subscribe: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe so you don't miss what's coming next.Share with a fellow coach: Know someone who could use a little courage boost? Pass this episode on—courage is contagious, after all.Thanks again for listening. Until next time, stay curious, stay human and keep choosing courage.

About the Guest - Dr Julia Carden PhD MSc PCC FCIPDJulia was born and raised in Cornwall and “made in the Royal Navy”, and now lives in Hampshire. She has been and continues to be on a lifelong journey in developing her own self-awareness. She works as a relational coach and coach supervisor practitioner, with an academic underpinning.  Her work focuses on working with the whole person (both individuals and teams) to expand and deepen self-awareness, so that individuals can connect deeply with others and develop the capacity to sit with uncertainty. Julia has a deep interest in self-awareness and how it helps individuals develop and grow, by enabling firstly self-connection and then connection with others. This approach is underpinned by her PhD research into Self-Awareness. Alongside her coaching and supervision practice, she is a visiting tutor at Henley Business School, teaching on the Professional Certificate in Executive Coaching, MSc in Executive Coaching for Behavioural Change and heads up the Professional Certificate in Coaching Supervision.Julia’s book “You Are Not As Self-Aware As You Think You Are” was published in October 2025.About the EpisodeIn this episode, host Melissa is joined by Julia Carden to delve into the foundational and deeply human theme of self-awareness.Together, Melissa and Julia explore how doing the inner work allows us to leave our ego at the door, drop the exhausting need to "perform," and build true, grounded confidence. They discuss practical ways to cultivate self-awareness, ranging from formal coaching supervision and therapy to taking mindful dog walks in nature. Importantly, they emphasise that self-awareness isn't a final destination or a neat box, but rather a messy, tangled "ball of wool" that requires continuous unravelling.Key topics explored in this episode include:Dropping the Performance: How true self-awareness frees coaches from the need to "perform" or "fix," allowing them to comfortably hold space for a client's uncertainty.The Components of Self: Breaking down self-awareness into intrapersonal elements (beliefs, values, motivations, and somatic responses) and interpersonal elements (how others perceive our behaviours).Moral Courage in Coaching: Learning to trust that somatic "sharp edge" feeling and having the bravery to ask the difficult questions that no one else will dare to ask.The Power of Meaning-Making: Why life experiences—whether trekking up a mountain in Morocco, painting, or doing yoga—only build real awareness when paired with intentional reflection.The Ripple Effect of Compassion: How accepting our own "messy" shadow sides and unhelpful inherited beliefs fosters self-compassion, which then creates a ripple effect of love and compassion for our clients and communities.Whether you are just beginning your reflective practice or are deeply engaged in navigating the tangled threads of your own inner work, this episode is a beautiful reminder that self-awareness is an ongoing, courageous journey.Connect  with Julia:Carden Consulting: https://carden-consulting.co.uk/ On LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliacarden/More about the book "You Are Not As Self-Aware As You Think You Are": https://youarenotasselfawareasyouthink.com/ Go Deeper with The Courageous Coach ProgramIf these conversations are resonating, you might be ready to go deeper. The Courageous Coach program is designed for qualified coaches in the early years of building their independent practice. If you want to coach with more courage, clarity, and humanity and grow a business that truly reflects who you are, this is for you.You can find all the details here: https://www.melissahague.com/courageous-coachesConnect with MelissaCome and find Melissa on LinkedIn. Whether you have questions about the program, want to share what resonated from this episode, or just fancy a chat, she'd love to connect.Support the Podcast:Follow & Subscribe: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe so you don't miss what's coming next.Share with a fellow coach: Know someone who could use a little courage boost? Pass this episode on—courage is contagious, after all.Thanks again for listening. Until next time, stay curious, stay human and keep choosing courage.

About the GuestDonna Ward-Higgs is a leadership coach, supervisor, and trusted Wing Woman to leaders, managers and coaching business owners navigating growth, pressure and big decisions. She supports people to untangle the noise, challenge unhelpful “shoulds”, and lead in a way that actually fits — combining sharp thinking, honest conversations and deep respect for the human side of leadership.  Donna is a dear friend of host Melissa and a returning regular guest on the podcast. With a deep understanding of coaching and personal growth, Donna brings a calming and insightful perspective to complex emotional topics, emphasising the importance of giving ourselves the space to process feelings without forced judgment or expectation.About the EpisodeIn this reflective and unscripted conversation, Melissa and regular guest Donna Ward-Higgs dive into the transformative concept of emotional agility.Recording just 48 hours after returning from a rigorous emotional agility certification program with Susan David, Melissa shares her fresh, vulnerable insights and real-time personal experiences from the trip. Together, Donna and Melissa unpack what it means to stop fighting our feelings and start using them to cultivate long-term change and grounded confidence.Key topics explored in this episode include:Emotions as Data, Not Directives: Learning to view our feelings as helpful information rather than absolute truths that must dictate our actions.Recognising the "Hook": Identifying the deeply ingrained stories that trap us, and physically creating the necessary space between stimulus and response to make empowered choices.Agility vs. Rigidity: The crucial difference between letting emotions pass through you and holding onto them so tightly that they define you.The Power of the Pause: Donna and Melissa discuss how stepping back to ground yourself—whether through taking a quiet walk in nature or simply petting a dog—is essential before reacting."You Are the Sky": Embracing the liberating concept that our emotions are just the "clouds" passing by; they are a part of us, not all of us.Whether you are navigating your own emotional hurdles or looking to better support your coaching clients, this candid episode offers practical wisdom on finding your ground and replacing old stories with courageous new choices.Go Deeper with The Courageous Coach ProgramIf these conversations are resonating, you might be ready to go deeper. The Courageous Coach program is designed for qualified coaches in the early years of building their independent practice. If you want to coach with more courage, clarity, and humanity and grow a business that truly reflects who you are, this is for you.You can find all the details here: https://www.melissahague.com/courageous-coachesConnect with MelissaCome and find Melissa on LinkedIn. Whether you have questions about the program, want to share what resonated from this episode, or just fancy a chat, she'd love to connect.Support the Podcast:Follow & Subscribe: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe so you don't miss what's coming next.Share with a fellow coach: Know someone who could use a little courage boost? Pass this episode on—courage is contagious, after all.Thanks again for listening. Until next time, stay curious, stay human and keep choosing courage.

About Jane Gilham:Coach | Advocate for Women’s Wellbeing & Leadership | Grief Educator in Training Jane Gilham is a coach and mentor for high-achieving women who’ve spent years carrying responsibility, pushing through overwhelm, and quietly losing pieces of themselves along the way. She helps female leaders, executives, and professionals reclaim clarity, meaning, andemotional freedom, without burning out or abandoning their own needs. Her work is deeply rooted in her own story, decades of high performance, caregiving and navigating complex relationships. The grief of losing her father and the gradual erosion of self that can happen when you’re endlessly strong for everyone else. These experiences shape her compassionate, grounded approach to coaching, one that welcomes the whole human, not just the polished parts.She supports clients through challenges such as self-doubt, over-responsibility, imposter feelings, grief (in all its forms), work-life imbalance, and the pressure to hold everything together. Her coaching blends emotional resilience, psychological flexibility, values-led growth and nature-based reflection to help women reconnect with who they are beneath the expectations. Jane is currently completing her Grief Educator Certification with David Kessler’s 2025 Fall cohort, expanding her work to support individuals through the many forms of loss, not just death, but identity shifts, life transitions, and the quiet, unnamed losses that shape us. She is the founder of Awareness Coaching, where she offers 1:1 coaching, workshops, and reflective spaces for women who want to live intentional, meaningful, and healthier lives. Her leadership background, alongside years of mentoring and advisory work, gives her a unique ability to ask courageous questions and guide others through periods of change. She is also a volunteer youth coach. When she’s not coaching, you’ll find her walking in nature with Woody, her cocker Spaniel, studying or spending time with her family.Jane is a member of the Association of Coaching, Dare to Lead™ Trained and part of the Henley School for Coaching Alumni.About the Episode:In this episode, Melissa pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to build grounded confidence and live courageously.Melissa is joined by Jane Gilham for a rich, honest conversation about the vital role values play in our lives and businesses. While many of us can list our values, Jane and Melissa dig deeper into the difference between simply professing them and actually practising them—especially when life gets hard.In a vulnerable and powerful discussion, Jane shares her personal journey of identifying her core values—Compassion, Curiosity, Family, Health, and Nature—and how they have served as an essential anchor during a season of profound grief and physical challenge following the loss of her father.Key topics explored in this episode include:From "Fixer" to Curious Observer: How leaning into the value of Curiosity helps coaches avoid the trap of "fixing" and instead build a 3D context for their clients.Values as a Compass: How values like Nature and Compassion can guide difficult decisions and daily habits, even in the midst of trauma and loss.The Hard Work of Alignment: The reality of living into your values when they are being tested, including managing boundaries and avoiding emotional enmeshment.Grounded Confidence: Using values to filter out the "noise" of the world and stop worrying about what others think.Whether you are new to values work or looking to deepen your existing practice, this episode offers a moving real-world example of how values support us to be courageous with our clients, our businesses, and our lives.Jane's Links:www.awarenesscoachinghr.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-gilham-8765a32b/Go Deeper with The Courageous Coach ProgramIf these conversations are resonating, you might be ready to go deeper. The Courageous Coach program is designed for qualified coaches in the early years of building their independent practice. If you want to coach with more courage, clarity, and humanity and grow a business that truly reflects who you are, this is for you.You can find all the details here: https://www.melissahague.com/courageous-coachesConnect with MelissaCome and find Melissa on LinkedIn. Whether you have questions about the program, want to share what resonated from this episode, or just fancy a chat, she'd love to connect.Support the Podcast:Follow & Subscribe: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe so you don't miss what's coming next.Share with a fellow coach: Know someone who could use a little courage boost? Pass this episode on—courage is contagious, after all.Thanks again for listening. Until next time, stay curious, stay human and keep choosing courage.

About This EpisodeWelcome to the premiere of Season Three! In this solo episode, host Melissa Hague sets the foundation for a season dedicated entirely to Grounded Confidence. Moving past the myths that confidence is about being loud, shiny, or perfect, Melissa explores a steadier, more human form of confidence that allows coaches to step into courage without "armouring up".Drawing heavily on the "Arena" metaphor from Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead work, Melissa breaks down what it means to be vulnerable in our coaching practice and introduces the core components of grounded confidence that will be explored throughout this seasonKey Topics DiscussedThe Myth of Confidence: Why confidence isn't about boldness, certainty, or polish, but rather about self-trust, presence, and steadiness.The Arena Metaphor: Understanding the "arena" as any moment where we share ourselves (opinions, feelings, work) without control over the outcome.Armouring Up: How we use self-protection mechanisms like over-preparation, perfectionism, people-pleasing, and even reflective practice to avoid vulnerability.Defining Grounded Confidence: A confidence built on solid ground—rooted in self-awareness, courage, and practice rather than arrogance or posturing.The Core Components of Grounded Confidence:Values: Practising values behaviorally (e.g., using curiosity when you don't know an answer) rather than just professing them.Emotional Awareness & Regulation: Staying with emotions rather than suppressing them to shape our presence.Self-Awareness: Understanding our patterns, triggers, and blind spots to create clearer boundaries.Curiosity: The vulnerability of admitting "I don't know" and leaning into uncertainty.Mindfulness: The power of the "pause" to create space between stimulus and response.Embodiment: Moving out of our heads to access the wisdom and cues of our bodies.Mastery: A commitment to being a student of the craft, prioritising practice over perfection.Next WeekJoin us for Episode 2, where Melissa will be joined by Jane Gilham to dive deep into Values—specifically how they serve as an anchor for grounded confidence during challenging times.Go Deeper with The Courageous Coach ProgramIf these conversations are resonating, you might be ready to go deeper. The Courageous Coach program is designed for qualified coaches in the early years of building their independent practice. If you want to coach with more courage, clarity, and humanity and grow a business that truly reflects who you are, this is for you.You can find all the details here: https://www.melissahague.com/courageous-coachesConnect with MelissaConnect with me on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/melissa-hagueSign up to my mailing list here - https://mailinglistsignup.melissahague.com/landing-page-8347Or, If you’d like chat about all thing’s courage, then you can book a chat with me here - https://calendly.com/melissahague/let-s-talkSupport the Podcast:Follow & Subscribe: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe so you don't miss what's coming next.Share with a fellow coach: Know someone who could use a little courage boost? Pass this episode on—courage is contagious, after all.Thanks again for listening. Until next time, stay curious, stay human and keep choosing courage.

About The Episode Host:Kate Chastey is a business mentor and marketing strategist known for helping solo business owners (especially women) build financially stable, emotionally sustainable businesses rooted in clarity, courage, and joy.After 15 years building her own freelance business into a respected franchise, The Passionate PA, Kate made the bold decision to close that chapter in 2024. That transformation was supported by Melissa Hague through the Dare to Lead™ programme—a pivotal experience that helped Kate realign her future with greater authenticity and purpose.Now, through her consultancy, Kate offers mentoring and strategy for service-based solo business owners who want more than just income—they want impact, intention, and a business they don't need a holiday from. Her specialisms include marketing strategy, outsourcing advice, and business growth mentorship, particularly supporting freelancers and consultants to move past the £5k/month barrier with smart strategy and mindset support.Kate lives on a small farm on Dartmoor and runs her business from her "office with a view," often accompanied by her Barketing AssistantThis podcast episode represents a full-circle moment for Kate—from being coached by Melissa to now interviewing her, bringing insight, warmth, and curiosity to a conversation about courage, leadership, and personal evolution.Connect with Kate:Website: www.katechastey.co.ukLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katechastey/About The Episode:Welcome to episode 24 of the Courageous Coach podcast—something a little different this time! Host Melissa Hague has handed over the mic to the brilliant Kate Chastey, business mentor, marketing specialist, and someone who has walked her own incredibly courageous path.In 2024, Kate made the bold decision to close The Passionate PA, a franchise business she had built from the ground up over 15 years, to step into more aligned and meaningful work. This transformation was supported by Melissa through the Dare to Lead™ programme—a pivotal experience that Kate describes as her biggest arena moment.Now the tables have turned, and Kate brings her insider's perspective to interview Melissa about her journey from employed life to entrepreneurship, the pivotal moments that shaped her career, and what it really means to be a courageous coach. This conversation offers a rare glimpse into Melissa's own vulnerability, her arena moments, and the ongoing work of building courage both personally and professionally.It's a full-circle moment that beautifully illustrates how courage builds courage, and how the work we do on ourselves ripples out to transform others—and sometimes comes back to us in the most unexpected and beautiful ways.In this episode, you’ll learn:Self-awareness is just the beginning: Melissa emphasises that while coach training teaches models, techniques, and tools, the real transformation comes from doing your own inner work. You can't just tell people to be courageous—you have to role model it authentically, which requires knowing yourself deeply and doing the ongoing work of personal development. Loosen your grip on perfectionism: One of Melissa's key insights for coaches is learning to trust yourself earlier and hold less tightly to rigid structures. If you don't know the answer, that's okay—you're not meant to know. If you've forgotten where you are in a coaching model, that's fine too. This trust and flexibility creates more flow and ease in coaching relationships. Arena moments happen daily, not just in big life transitions: While we often think of courage as grand gestures, Melissa reminds us that arena moments happen all day, every day. Every new client conversation, every vulnerable share, every time you step into uncertainty as a coach—these are all opportunities to practice ordinary, everyday courage. The transformation happens between sessions, not during them: A crucial realisation for coaches is that the biggest breakthroughs and "aha moments" typically don't happen in coaching sessions; they happen in the spaces between, when clients are processing, reflecting, and applying what they've explored. This takes the pressure off coaches to create immediate transformation. Who you are is how you coach—so get deliberate about knowing yourself: This isn't just a nice coaching philosophy—it's a practical imperative. Melissa advocates for being intentional and deliberate about your own development work rather than just hoping you'll figure it out along the way. The more consciously you do this work, the more authentic and effective you become as a coach.Go Deeper with The Courageous Coach ProgramIf these conversations are resonating, you might be ready to go deeper. The Courageous Coach program is designed for qualified coaches in the early years of building their independent practice. If you want to coach with more courage, clarity, and humanity and grow a business that truly reflects who you are, this is for you.You can find all the details here: https://www.melissahague.com/courageous-coaches Connect with MelissaCome and find Melissa on LinkedIn. Whether you have questions about the program, want to share what resonated from this episode, or just fancy a chat, she'd love to connect.Support the Podcast:Follow & Subscribe: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe so you don't miss what's coming next.Share with a fellow coach: Know someone who could use a little courage boost? Pass this episode on—courage is contagious, after all.Thanks again for listening. Until next time, stay curious, stay human and keep choosing courage.

About The Guests:This roundtable features five members of the Courageous Coach community:Amy Wilkinson – A down-to-earth, real-talk advocate for ditching coaching snobbery and embracing imperfection.Jane Gilham – Speaks powerfully about grief, transition, and finding courage in life’s hardest seasons.Donna Ward-Higgs – Brings heartfelt insight into the power of safety, self-awareness, and returning to community as a restorative act.Kathryn Smith – Shares her reflections from inside the NHS and academia, anchoring herself in the idea that she’s already enough.Gayle Tong – Champions the idea of community without comparison, and of learning who you truly are beyond corporate life.And of course, your host Melissa Hague, whose vision, vulnerability and human-first ethos shape the Courageous Coach experience.About The Episode:In this heartwarming, laughter-filled, and deeply honest roundtable, host Melissa Hague is joined by five founding members of the Courageous Coach community: Amy Wilkinson, Jane Gilham, Donna Ward-Higgs, Kathryn, and Gayle Tong. What started as an experiment became a powerful conversation about what community really means in the context of coaching beyond credentials, beyond branding, and into what it means to simply be human together.This episode explores the behind-the-scenes of building a values-led coaching practice while staying anchored in authenticity, connection, and courage. Expect real talk, no polish, and a powerful reminder that you're not alone on the path.In this episode, you’ll learn:Community isn’t noisy, it’s nourishing: The Courageous Coach community isn't about constant WhatsApp pings or forced interaction. It’s a space to ebb and flow, show up when you need to, and know someone’s got your back without the pressure to perform.Courage is contagious (and deeply human): When one coach dares to be vulnerable, it opens the door for others to drop the mask. These conversations are rooted in real-life grief, identity shifts, imposter syndrome, and the courage to keep showing up anyway.We are humans first, coaches second: The magic of this community lies in not needing to posture. There’s no model-off, badge flex, or acronyms-as-armour. Coaching here starts with humanity, not hierarchy.You’re already enough, and still becoming: Many of the coaches speak openly about comparison, chasing qualifications, and wondering, “Am I doing this right?” The consensus? You grow as a coach by being yourself, not by collecting more letters after your name.Ongoing development is an anchor, not a tick-box: Whether it’s returning to a gathering, revisiting the programme themes, or simply staying connected, the work of being a courageous coach isn’t one-and-done. It's lifelong, evolving, and sustained by community.Go Deeper with The Courageous Coach ProgramIf these conversations are resonating, you might be ready to go deeper. The Courageous Coach program is designed for qualified coaches in the early years of building their independent practice. If you want to coach with more courage, clarity, and humanity and grow a business that truly reflects who you are, this is for you.You can find all the details here: https://www.melissahague.com/courageous-coaches Connect with MelissaCome and find Melissa on LinkedIn. Whether you have questions about the program, want to share what resonated from this episode, or just fancy a chat, she'd love to connect.Support the Podcast:Follow & Subscribe: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe so you don't miss what's coming next.Share with a fellow coach: Know someone who could use a little courage boost? Pass this episode on—courage is contagious, after all.Thanks again for listening. Until next time, stay curious, stay human and keep choosing courage.

About The Guest:This episode features no guest just the honest, encouraging voice of the show’s host: Melissa Hague. Melissa is a coach who helps others lead with courage, show up more fully, and build meaningful practices from the inside out. Her work is rooted in integrity, self-awareness, and the belief that being human is more than enough.About The Episode:In this solo episode of The Courageous Coach, host Melissa gets beautifully vulnerable as she reads a heartfelt letter to her past self, the version of her just starting out in the coaching world. This isn’t just a pep talk. It’s a grounded, soul-nourishing reminder of what it really takes to build a coaching practice with heart, humanity and courage. Whether you’re new to coaching or simply circling back to your “why,” this is a letter worth hearing.In this episode, you’ll learn:Courage doesn’t wait for readiness: You don’t need to feel “fully qualified” or confident to begin coaching. Courage shows up when you do - uncertain, imperfect, and still willing to serve. The transformation starts not when you feel ready, but when you choose to begin anyway.You’re not missing a magic credential: That urge to do “just one more training” before calling yourself a real coach? It's a distraction. Real coaching is built through presence, care, and a willingness to keep growing, not through an endless list of certifications.The business side requires its own kind of bravery: Building a coaching practice is one thing. Turning it into a business? That’s a whole other dance with vulnerability. Pricing your work, being seen, and saying “this is who I am and what I do” takes guts, and it gets easier with practice.Marketing can be human, slow, and values-led: You don’t have to sound like a marketing guru. You don’t have to manipulate. Just speak from your truth. Let your content be a generous invitation rather than a polished performance.Slowness isn’t failure - it’s part of the rhythm: Quiet seasons with no new clients or visible progress can feel like failure, but they’re often where integration, healing, and refinement happen. Long-term success isn’t always loud; it’s consistent, honest, and sustainable.Go Deeper with The Courageous Coach ProgramIf these conversations are resonating, you might be ready to go deeper. The Courageous Coach program is designed for qualified coaches in the early years of building their independent practice. If you want to coach with more courage, clarity, and humanity and grow a business that truly reflects who you are, this is for you.You can find all the details here: https://www.melissahague.com/courageous-coaches Connect with MelissaCome and find Melissa on LinkedIn. Whether you have questions about the program, want to share what resonated from this episode, or just fancy a chat, she'd love to connect.Support the Podcast:Follow & Subscribe: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe so you don't miss what's coming next.Share with a fellow coach: Know someone who could use a little courage boost? Pass this episode on—courage is contagious, after all.Thanks again for listening. Until next time, stay curious, stay human and keep choosing courage.

About The Guest:Diane Lloyd, MA, PCC is a leadership coach, speaker, and facilitator dedicated to empowering midlife women to step into their full leadership potential with confidence, clarity, and courage. With decades of leadership experience and a deep understanding of personal reinvention, Diane has lived the transitions she now helps others navigate.At 43, she made a bold career shift from a successful role in revenue development to becoming an executive coach, and now, at 57, she is reinventing her business to focus on supporting women leaders in midlife. Having personally experienced the challenges of perimenopause and menopause, Diane is passionate about ensuring that women don't lose faith in themselves during this critical life stage.Diane created the Inspiring Midlife Leadership program, where women reclaim their confidence and access their courage with a view that midlife is a time of opportunity rather than decline. She holds the PCC credential with the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and is certified in Navigating Transitions (TQ), Emotional Intelligence (EQi 2.0), and the Neuroscience of Coaching. Additionally, she teaches in the Certified Executive Coach Program at Royal Roads University, where she was honoured with the 2022 Kelly Outstanding Teaching Award.When she's not coaching or speaking, Diane enjoys adventuring on Vancouver Island, exploring Okanagan wine country, diving into a great book, or finding peace on her yoga mat.Connect with Diane:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dianelloyd/Email: [email protected]: www.dianelloyd.comInspiring Midlife Leadership: https://inspiredresultsgroup.mykajabi.com/inspiring_midlife_leadership_program_2-0 About The Episode:Welcome to episode 21 of the Courageous Coach podcast, where we pull back the curtain on what it really takes to be courageous with your clients, your business, and your life. In this powerful conversation, host Melissa is joined by leadership coach and facilitator Diane Lloyd for an intimate exploration of courage, vulnerability, and the transformative journey of midlife leadership.Diane and Melissa, who first connected through their Dare to Lead training with Brené Brown, share deeply personal insights about their own courage-building journeys. This isn't just a theoretical discussion - it's a raw, honest conversation between two coaches who are actively doing the work themselves while supporting others on their own paths to courage.From discussing the challenges of sitting with difficult emotions in coaching sessions to exploring how midlife women can step into their power to change the world, this episode offers both practical wisdom and profound insights for coaches, leaders, and anyone navigating their own courage journey.In this episode, you’ll learn:Courageous coaching requires embracing hard emotions: Rather than rushing clients toward the light or trying to reframe difficult feelings, truly courageous coaches learn to sit with discomfort—both their client's and their own. This means being curious about shame, grief, and other challenging emotions rather than avoiding them or immediately trying to fix them. Self-awareness without self-compassion equals self-cruelty: This powerful insight from Jessica Griffin reminds us that developing self-awareness is only half the equation. Without the accompanying self-compassion (and the important middle step of self-acceptance), increased self-awareness can become a tool for self-attack rather than growth and healing. Intuition is both a whisper and a body experience: Learning to trust your intuition as a coach involves tuning into both the quiet voice that offers "drop-down one-liners" and the somatic signals your body provides. The key question Diane uses to access her intuition is: "What does my heart tell me to do?" Confidence comes from courage, not the other way around: Rather than waiting to feel confident before taking action, courage is what enables us to take that first step, then another, and another. Each act of courage builds confidence over time, especially when paired with self-compassion when things don't go as planned. Midlife women have the power to change the world: There's incredible untapped potential in women navigating midlife who are ready to step into their full power. By addressing the "invisible barriers" like perimenopause, patriarchal conditioning, and shame, midlife women can access their wisdom, emotional intelligence, and collaborative leadership style when the world needs it most.Go Deeper with The Courageous Coach ProgramIf these conversations are resonating, you might be ready to go deeper. The Courageous Coach program is designed for qualified coaches in the early years of building their independent practice. If you want to coach with more courage, clarity, and humanity and grow a business that truly reflects who you are, this is for you.You can find all the details here: https://www.melissahague.com/courageous-coaches Connect with MelissaCome and find Melissa on LinkedIn. Whether you have questions about the program, want to share what resonated from this episode, or just fancy a chat, she'd love to connect.Support the Podcast:Follow & Subscribe: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe so you don't miss what's coming next.Share with a fellow coach: Know someone who could use a little courage boost? Pass this episode on—courage is contagious, after all.Thanks again for listening. Until next time, stay curious, stay human and keep choosing courage.

About The Guest:Jean Burke supports purpose-driven leaders and teams to thrive, not just keep going. With over 30 years of experience in leadership, coaching, and workplace wellbeing, she brings a psychologically informed, deeply practical approach to helping people lead with greater clarity, connection, and self-awareness.Her work is rooted in the belief that leadership is relational and that meaningful change happens when we pay attention to how we connect with ourselves and one another. Jean is an accredited psychotherapist, experienced executive coach, and Strengths Profile Master Practitioner, specialising in group dynamics, reflective practice, and healthier ways of working in high-pressure environments.Jean's unique background in both psychotherapy and executive coaching allows her to work holistically with senior leaders, particularly those in high-stakes, high-pressure environments such as healthcare and social care. Her research on courage in psychotherapy provides valuable insights that inform both her therapeutic and coaching practice.Connect with Jean:Website: www.jeanburke.netAbout The Episode:Welcome to episode 20 of the Courageous Coach podcast, where we pull back the curtain on what it really takes to be courageous with your clients, your business and your life. In this episode, host Melissa is joined by Jean Burke, a psychotherapist and executive coach who brings a unique dual perspective to the conversation.Jean and Melissa explore the fascinating intersection of coaching and therapy, delving into the importance of self-awareness and the role of courage in both practices. Drawing from her research on courage in psychotherapy, Jean emphasises that courage is entirely subjective and unique to each individual practitioner and client relationship.This rich conversation highlights the critical importance of real connection in coaching relationships, the everyday acts of courage that lead to meaningful change, and the essential self-work that coaches must do to show up authentically with their clients. From understanding our defence mechanisms to embracing the "curse of the coach," Jean and Melissa offer profound insights into what it truly means to be present and courageous in the service of others.In this episode, you’ll learn:Self-awareness begins with understanding your defences and relationship with uncertainty - As coaches, we must recognise how we deal with anxiety and the unknown, because our ability to sit with a client's vulnerability and uncertainty depends on our comfort with our own. Understanding our defence mechanisms and how we armour up when feeling vulnerable is crucial for maintaining an authentic connection with clients. Courage in coaching is entirely subjective and evolves over time - Jean's research revealed that courage looks different for every coach and grows with experience and development. What feels courageous for one coach may not for another, and what challenges you early in your career becomes comfortable over time. This subjective nature means avoiding comparison with others and honouring your own unique brand of courage. Real connection requires bringing your whole authentic self into a relationship - Courage in coaching isn't about technique or skill-building—it's about the willingness to be genuinely present and authentic with another human being. This means being willing to name what's happening in the room, share your own vulnerability when appropriate, and engage with clients as whole human beings rather than just their professional selves. The competence boundary between coaching and therapy is felt, not tick-boxed - Rather than rigid rules about when coaching becomes therapy, experienced practitioners develop a felt sense of when they're moving beyond their competence. The key is staying connected to yourself, using supervision effectively, and having courageous conversations with clients about re-contracting when needed, always prioritising the client's best interests. Every day courage matters more than heroic acts - While we often think of courage in terms of big, bold actions, the most important courage in coaching happens in small, everyday moments—naming what you're noticing, sitting with not knowing the next question, or admitting when you feel out of your depth. These ordinary acts of courage strengthen the coaching relationship and create space for real change.Go Deeper with The Courageous Coach ProgramIf these conversations are resonating, you might be ready to go deeper. The Courageous Coach program is designed for qualified coaches in the early years of building their independent practice. If you want to coach with more courage, clarity, and humanity and grow a business that truly reflects who you are, this is for you.You can find all the details here: https://www.melissahague.com/courageous-coaches Connect with MelissaCome and find Melissa on LinkedIn. Whether you have questions about the program, want to share what resonated from this episode, or just fancy a chat, she'd love to connect.Support the Podcast:Follow & Subscribe: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe so you don't miss what's coming next.Share with a fellow coach: Know someone who could use a little courage boost? Pass this episode on—courage is contagious, after all.Thanks again for listening. Until next time, stay curious, stay human and keep choosing courage.

About The Guest:Amy Wilkinson is the founder of Fearless Foodies, a coaching and training company dedicated to empowering professionals in the food industry to communicate with confidence, influence, and impact.After more than two decades in new product development, commercial and marketing roles within corporate food manufacturing, Amy took the leap to start her own coaching business nearly five years ago. Drawing on her wealth of industry experience and her passion for people, she now delivers transformative workshops and coaching that inspire emotionally intelligent leadership and confident communication.Known for her engaging and relatable style, Amy helps individuals embrace their unique voice, navigate challenges with courage, and achieve their personal and professional goals by "feeling the fear and doing it anyway". What started as a solo coaching practice has evolved into a team of 10+ associate coaches, creating what Amy describes as not just a business, but a movement within the food industry.Connect with Amy:Website: fearlessfoodies.co.ukBlog: ohforfoodssake.co.ukAbout The Episode:Welcome to episode 19 of the Courageous Coach podcast, where we pull back the curtain on what it really takes to be courageous with your clients, your business and your life. In this episode, host Melissa is joined by the wonderful Amy Wilkinson, founder of Fearless Foodies, for her second appearance on the show.Amy returns to share the evolution of her coaching business journey, exploring how she transformed from a generalist coach to building a powerful movement within the food industry. This candid conversation delves into the challenges and triumphs of building a coaching business, the transformative power of niching, and the daily courage required to show up authentically in business.From her first vulnerable speaking moment to six women on Zoom to presenting to 300 people at Asda head office, Amy's story demonstrates how small acts of courage compound into significant business growth. We explore the balance between comfort and courage, the importance of self-awareness in business, and how to find the right support while avoiding the noise of "six-figure by Christmas" promises.In this episode, you’ll learn:Niching amplifies your voice and accelerates growth - The more Amy niched into the food industry and then specifically product development teams, the louder her marketing voice became. By speaking directly to one person's experience and using industry-specific language, her content resonated powerfully with her ideal clients, leading to exponential business growth and recognition as a thought leader. Small courageous actions create cascading opportunities - Amy's pivotal moment came when she vulnerably shared her burnout story with just six women on a Zoom call. This single act of courage led to increased authenticity in her social media, which built momentum and eventually resulted in speaking to 300 people at major corporate events, demonstrating how courage compounds over time. Building a business that feels like you require deep self-awareness - Understanding her ADHD, rejection sensitivity dysphoria, and working style allowed Amy to build a business model that works with her brain rather than against it. This included outsourcing sales-focused content and focusing on attraction-based marketing rather than hard selling, creating sustainable success aligned with her values. The evolution from coach to business owner demands different skills - While coaching skills allow you to work with anyone, building a successful coaching business requires marketing, sales, and business development skills. Amy emphasised the importance of investing in business education and finding trusted advisors who can provide both strategic guidance and emotional support through the challenges. Early-stage compromises are necessary stepping stones - Both Amy and Melissa acknowledged that new coaches often can't afford to be selective about work in the beginning. Taking on projects that aren't perfectly aligned is sometimes necessary for survival, but the key is maintaining a North Star vision of where you want to be while being practical about current financial needs.Go Deeper with The Courageous Coach ProgramIf these conversations are resonating, you might be ready to go deeper. The Courageous Coach program is designed for qualified coaches in the early years of building their independent practice. If you want to coach with more courage, clarity, and humanity and grow a business that truly reflects who you are, this is for you.You can find all the details here: https://www.melissahague.com/courageous-coaches Connect with MelissaCome and find Melissa on LinkedIn. Whether you have questions about the program, want to share what resonated from this episode, or just fancy a chat, she'd love to connect.Support the Podcast:Follow & Subscribe: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe so you don't miss what's coming next.Share with a fellow coach: Know someone who could use a little courage boost? Pass this episode on—courage is contagious, after all.Thanks again for listening. Until next time, stay curious, stay human and keep choosing courage.

About The Guest:Dr Jo Hartley is a Career and Life Coach for Doctors who brings over 30 years of NHS experience to her coaching practice. After becoming a consultant in emergency medicine in 2007, Jo experienced her own brush with burnout in 2016, which began her journey of self-exploration and ultimately led her to discover coaching.Jo's path to coaching wasn't straightforward - it involved completing a counselling qualification, multiple coaching certifications (including an ILM5 diploma), and a postgraduate certificate in career development, all while juggling family life and a demanding medical career. Her experience of burnout became the foundation for her calling to support other medical professionals who are navigating similar challenges.As an integrative coach, Jo specialises in working with established consultants and senior clinicians who are facing workplace challenges, career transitions, or seeking to build more sustainable careers they actually enjoy. She combines her deep understanding of the medical profession's unique pressures with coaching skills to create a safe space for doctors to explore their humanity alongside their professional expertise.Jo left clinical practice two years ago and now balances her coaching work with educational roles within the NHS. She delivers both individual coaching and workshops focused on well-being, personal growth, career development, and leadership skills. When she's not coaching, you'll find Jo walking her dog in the local countryside, a practice that has become essential to her own self-care and boundary management.Connect with Jo:Email: [email protected]: www.drjohartley.comLinkedIn: Dr Jo HartleyAbout The Episode:Welcome to episode 18 of the Courageous Coach podcast, where we pull back the curtain on what it really takes to be courageous with our clients, our business, and our lives. In this deeply personal conversation, host Melissa is joined by Dr Jo Hartley, who shares her transformative journey from being a doctor to becoming a coach.Jo and Melissa explore the profound challenges of identity shifts, the impact of burnout on personal and professional growth, and the courage required to step away from a 30+ year medical career to forge a new path. This conversation delves into the complexities of transitioning from being "the expert" to embracing vulnerability, the importance of authenticity in coaching practice, and the unique challenges of building a coaching business while managing the human side of professional transformation.From emergency medicine to career coaching, Jo's story illuminates the courage required not just in the big, bold moves, but in the countless small moments of choosing authenticity over comfort, vulnerability over armour, and trust over control.In this episode, you’ll learn:Identity shifts require courage and compassion: Moving from expert to coach involves letting go of the safety of "knowing" and embracing the discomfort of not having all the answers. This transition from doctor to coach exemplifies how identity changes challenge us to rediscover who we are professionally and personally. Burnout can be a catalyst for growth: Jo's experience with burnout became the doorway to self-exploration and ultimately led her to discover coaching. Sometimes our greatest challenges become our greatest teachers and can redirect us toward more aligned work and life choices. The expert's dilemma in coaching: Learning to move away from giving advice and fixes toward holding space requires ongoing awareness. The challenge isn't eliminating expertise but learning when to offer it appropriately and how to stay unattached to whether clients take that offering. Authenticity attracts the right clients: When coaches own their full story - including struggles, vulnerabilities, and lived experiences - they naturally attract clients who resonate with that authenticity. Jo's willingness to share her burnout story creates permission for her medical clients to explore their own challenges. Self-employment amplifies the need for boundaries and self-care: The freedom of running your own business can become a trap without conscious boundaries. Learning to prioritise quality over quantity, taking breaks, and trusting your gut about what work to accept becomes essential for sustainable practice.Go Deeper with The Courageous Coach ProgramIf these conversations are resonating, you might be ready to go deeper. The Courageous Coach program is designed for qualified coaches in the early years of building their independent practice. If you want to coach with more courage, clarity, and humanity and grow a business that truly reflects who you are, this is for you.You can find all the details here: https://www.melissahague.com/courageous-coaches Connect with MelissaCome and find Melissa on LinkedIn. Whether you have questions about the program, want to share what resonated from this episode, or just fancy a chat, she'd love to connect.Support the Podcast:Follow & Subscribe: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe so you don't miss what's coming next.Share with a fellow coach: Know someone who could use a little courage boost? Pass this episode on—courage is contagious, after all.Thanks again for listening. Until next time, stay curious, stay human and keep choosing courage.

About The Guest:Claire Pedrick describes herself as "a human who facilitates other people's thinking" - and this beautifully captures her approach to both coaching and life. As an MCC Master Coach with over 15,000 hours of experience, Claire has been coaching for more than 35 years and established 3D Coaching in the 1990s to bring together the simplest and best learning from coaching.Claire is the author of two influential books: Simplifying Coaching and The Human Behind the Coach, both of which challenge coaches to move beyond performative techniques toward authentic human connection. She also hosts The Coaching Inn podcast, where she continues to explore what makes for true partnership in coaching.In 2022, Claire received the Outstanding Contribution to Coaching Award from Henley Business School and a Points of Light Award from the UK Prime Minister. When she's not coaching or developing other coaches through training and mentoring, you might find Claire taking very long walks - in 2022, she walked 600km on the Camino in Spain.Claire's learning lab consists of the coaches she listens to three days a week, and her current focus is understanding and sharing what makes for true partnership in coaching. She believes that the essence of coaching is simple, and that it takes time to learn to work that simply.About The Episode:Welcome to episode 17 of the Courageous Coach podcast, where we pull back the curtain on what it really takes to be courageous with your clients, your business, and your life. In this deeply moving conversation, host Melissa Hague is joined by Claire Pedrick, an extraordinary coach whose work has profoundly shaped Melissa's own courage-building journey.Claire and Melissa explore the transformative power of simplifying our coaching approach, moving away from heavy toolboxes and performative techniques toward genuine human connection. This conversation delves into the emotional landscape of coaching, examining why our industry might be raising a generation of coaches afraid to step out of line, and how embracing vulnerability and inner wisdom can create the conditions for true transformation.From pottery classes to paragliding metaphors, this episode is filled with practical insights about courage, trust, and what it really means to show up authentically in the coaching relationship.In this episode, you’ll learn:Simplicity over complexity: The most profound coaching often comes from doing less, not more. Your heavy toolbox of techniques might be getting in the way of genuine connection and transformation. Vulnerability creates permission: As coaches, we have a "first mover obligation" to be vulnerable. When we show up authentically and allow appropriate vulnerability, we give our clients permission to do the same. The nudist colony principle: If we ask our clients to be emotionally "naked" and vulnerable while we remain fully "clothed" in our professional armour, we create an uncomfortable and unproductive dynamic. Courage is everyday and extraordinary: Courage shows up both in small daily acts (like getting out of bed) and in deliberately seeking experiences where you won't excel or be in control. Human connection over perfection: Coaching is fundamentally two humans having a conversation. The moment we prioritise looking clever or following rules over genuine connection, we lose the essence of what makes coaching transformational. Stepping out of line is necessary: The coaching industry may be inadvertently training coaches to be rule-bound and afraid to deviate from prescribed methods, limiting both coach and client potential. Empathy requires humanity: True empathy in coaching isn't about remaining professionally distant - it's about appropriately sharing our human experience when it serves the client's process. Courage is contagious: When coaches embody courage and authenticity, it gives clients permission to access their own courage and step into their potential.Go Deeper with The Courageous Coach ProgramIf these conversations are resonating, you might be ready to go deeper. The Courageous Coach program is designed for qualified coaches in the early years of building their independent practice. If you want to coach with more courage, clarity, and humanity and grow a business that truly reflects who you are, this is for you.You can find all the details here: https://www.melissahague.com/courageous-coaches Connect with MelissaCome and find Melissa on LinkedIn. Whether you have questions about the program, want to share what resonated from this episode, or just fancy a chat, she'd love to connect.Support the Podcast:Follow & Subscribe: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe so you don't miss what's coming next.Share with a fellow coach: Know someone who could use a little courage boost? Pass this episode on—courage is contagious, after all.Thanks again for listening. Until next time, stay curious, stay human and keep choosing courage.

About The Guest:Julie Luscombe is the founder of People Like Me Coaching and Training Consultancy and a certified burnout coach who's made Jersey her home base for supporting overwhelmed professionals.With three distinct careers behind her - mental health nursing in the NHS, public health strategy work, and senior education roles - Julie brings a unique perspective to coaching that's grounded in real-world experience with mental health, suicide prevention, and health inequalities.Her journey into coaching began during the pandemic when she used her holiday time and money to retrain as a professional coach, initially thinking it would be her "retirement plan." Four and a half years later, she's built a thriving practice specialising in burnout prevention and recovery.Julie's approach is refreshingly human - she's known locally as "the circle of control lady" and believes in creating valuable thinking space to unlock the resources and potential within her clients. Her professional qualifications include being a Certified Burnout Coach, Approved Physical Intelligence Coach, Accredited Action Learning Facilitator, and holding an MSc in Public Health plus a Professional Doctorate in Education.What sets Julie apart is her willingness to meet clients in their overwhelm rather than rushing them toward future goals - recognising that sometimes people need to settle their nervous system before they can think clearly about what comes next.About The Episode:What happens when a mental health nurse discovers coaching during a pandemic and decides to completely reimagine her career? In this powerful episode, host Melissa sits down with Julie Luscombe to explore her fascinating journey from the NHS to building a thriving coaching practice specialising in burnout prevention and recovery.Julie shares the raw truth about initially wanting to focus on "flourishing" but discovering her clients needed something different: support through overwhelm, stress, and burnout. This isn't just another coaching success story; it's an honest conversation about the courage required to meet clients where they are, even when that place feels darker than we'd prefer.If you're a coach struggling with boundaries, visibility, or wondering how to show up authentically with your clients, this episode is essential listening.In this episode, you’ll learn:Courage looks different for everyone - Sometimes it's taking a massive leap, sometimes it's the small daily steps. The key is moving at your own pace, not what others expect of you. Clients are already in the middle of something - Before we can focus on future goals, we often need to help clients settle their nervous system and find clarity in the here and now. The power of "me too" moments - Sharing appropriate parts of your story creates connection and helps clients realise they're not alone in their struggles. Self-employed coaches face unique burnout risks - The combination of helping profession work plus solopreneur challenges requires intentional self-care and boundary setting. Visibility requires ongoing courage - From the initial terror of posting on LinkedIn to saying yes to clients outside your comfort zone, building a practice means continuously choosing courage over comfort. Plot your restoration first - Julie's game-changing approach: look at your week and schedule what keeps you well BEFORE filling in work commitments. LinkedIn can be your conference - Think of social media as sharing breakout information at a giant conference rather than marketing yourself.  Saying yes can be as courageous as saying no - Sometimes imposter syndrome makes us say no to opportunities we're actually perfect for. Burnout recovery creates post-traumatic growth - Working in this "darker" space isn't depressing - it's incredibly rewarding to witness people's transformation. Go Deeper with The Courageous Coach ProgramIf these conversations are resonating, you might be ready to go deeper. The Courageous Coach program is designed for qualified coaches in the early years of building their independent practice. If you want to coach with more courage, clarity, and humanity and grow a business that truly reflects who you are, this is for you.You can find all the details here: https://www.melissahague.com/courageous-coaches Connect with MelissaCome and find Melissa on LinkedIn. Whether you have questions about the program, want to share what resonated from this episode, or just fancy a chat, she'd love to connect.Support the Podcast:Follow & Subscribe: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe so you don't miss what's coming next.Share with a fellow coach: Know someone who could use a little courage boost? Pass this episode on—courage is contagious, after all.Thanks again for listening. Until next time, stay curious, stay human and keep choosing courage.

About The Guest:Teresa Wilson has worked as a trainer and facilitator for over 20 years and as a coach for more than a decade through Teresa Wilson Coaching. She currently delivers training and coaching within the Civil Service and the NHS, and for leaders in the third sector. Alongside her one-to-one private practice, she also works as a Mentor Coach. Teresa became interested in shadow work as a way to free herself from the relentless habit of judging her coaching sessions and punishing herself for being a "bad" coach.  She is also the co-author of the book, Seven Creative Gremlins: Write your way through doubt and fear to claim your creative life.You can find her on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/teresawilsoncoaching/) and at her website, https://teresawilsoncoaching.comAbout The Episode:Welcome to episode 15 of the Courageous Coach podcast, where we pull back the curtain on what it really takes to be courageous with your clients, your business, and your life.In this episode, host Melissa is joined by Teresa Wilson, a coach, facilitator, and a significant figure in Melissa's own courage-building journey. This conversation offers a rare and personal insight into Melissa's self-development, her struggles, and the profound realisations she has had about who she is as both a human and a coach.Teresa and Melissa explore the transformative power of shadow work and self-compassion. They discuss how our personal histories shape our coaching practice and the courage required to confront and accept all parts of ourselves. This conversation is a beautiful exploration of stillness, embodiment, and curiosity, emphasising that the journey to becoming more of who we are is the foundation of authentic and courageous coaching.In this episode, you’ll learn:What is Shadow Work?: Teresa explains that our "shadow" contains the parts of ourselves that were socialized out of us in childhood—qualities we disowned to fit in. The work is about integrating these parts to become more wholly ourselves.The Paradoxical Theory of Change: Discover how Gestalt therapy influenced Teresa's journey. The idea that we change not by trying to be different, but by becoming more of who we already are.From Self-Torture to Self-Compassion: Teresa shares her early struggles with an overactive inner critic and how she moved from judging her coaching sessions as simply "good" or "bad" to a more compassionate approach."No Bad Parts": The conversation highlights the importance of meeting our shadow parts with curiosity and compassion, understanding that their intention is always benevolent, even if their messaging is unhelpful.The Power of Stillness and Embodiment: The critical role of creating enough stillness to listen to our body's signals (like a wince or cringe), which act as vital data for shadow work.Courage is Having the Courage to "Be": Teresa defines courageous coaching as having the courage to simply "be," which requires giving up the need to be an expert or get it right, and instead sitting in the humility of "I don't know".Go Deeper with The Courageous Coach ProgramIf these conversations are resonating, you might be ready to go deeper. The Courageous Coach program is designed for qualified coaches in the early years of building their independent practice. If you want to coach with more courage, clarity, and humanity and grow a business that truly reflects who you are, this is for you.You can find all the details here: https://www.melissahague.com/courageous-coaches Connect with MelissaCome and find Melissa on LinkedIn. Whether you have questions about the program, want to share what resonated from this episode, or just fancy a chat, she'd love to connect.Support the Podcast:Follow & Subscribe: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe so you don't miss what's coming next.Share with a fellow coach: Know someone who could use a little courage boost? Pass this episode on—courage is contagious, after all.Thanks again for listening. Until next time, stay curious, stay human and keep choosing courage.

Episode 14 With Febriona RuoccoAbout The Guest:Febronia Ruocco is a Global Strategic Insights & Analytics Director and a dual-accredited Executive Leadership Coach. Over her career, she has led insights teams globally for renowned household brands such as Cadbury-Schweppes, Diageo, Heinz, Heineken, and GSK. Alongside her corporate leadership role, Febronia runs her own international coaching practice, serves as a mentor for Durham University, the EMCC, and WIRe (Women in Research), and is an Advisory Board Member at Durham University.About The Episode:Welcome to episode 14 of the Courageous Coach podcast, where we pull back the curtain on what it really takes to be courageous with your clients, your business, and your life. In this episode, host Melissa Hague is joined by Febronia Ruocco. Febronia shares her journey from being a Global Insights and Analytics Director in the corporate world to becoming a dual-accredited Executive Leadership Coach. We chat about the surprising and beautiful integration of her insights career and her coaching practice, exploring the challenges and joys she has encountered along the way. Febronia offers a candid look at the process of unlearning the habits of a "fixer" and problem-solver, the difficulty of embracing silence, and the courage it takes to support high-performing leaders. This conversation delves into the nuances of self-regulation, the ethical use of power in coaching, and the profound importance of knowing yourself to truly empower others. In this episode, you’ll learn:The Yin and Yang of Insights and Coaching: Febronia explains how her 20+ years in marketing and insights, guiding leaders through data, provided a natural training ground for coaching. The Challenge of Unlearning: The transition from a fast-paced corporate environment to the coaching space requires unlearning behaviors like interrupting and the performative need to add value. Febronia found it difficult to sit in silence and not "pipe up all the time." Embracing the Silence: The journey from feeling "so uncomfortable with the silences" to encouraging them as a vital tool for client reflection. Power and Partnership in Coaching: A discussion on the different forms of power, the importance of "de-powering" to create an equal partnership, and using power ethically to serve the client. The Courage to Know Yourself: Febronia’s belief that to be truly courageous as a coach, you must first face your own fears, understand your limits, and do the inner work. As she puts it, how can we empower others if we can't do it for ourselves first? The Evolution of a Niche: It took Febronia two and a half years to grow the confidence to reposition her coaching practice to focus on high-performing corporate leaders. Go Deeper with The Courageous Coach ProgramIf these conversations are resonating, you might be ready to go deeper. The Courageous Coach program is designed for qualified coaches in the early years of building their independent practice. If you want to coach with more courage, clarity, and humanity and grow a business that truly reflects who you are, this is for you.You can find all the details here: https://www.melissahague.com/courageous-coaches Connect with MelissaCome and find Melissa on LinkedIn. Whether you have questions about the program, want to share what resonated from this episode, or just fancy a chat, she'd love to connect.Support the Podcast:Follow & Subscribe: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe so you don't miss what's coming next.Share with a fellow coach: Know someone who could use a little courage boost? Pass this episode on—courage is contagious, after all.Thanks again for listening. Until next time, stay curious, stay human and keep choosing courage.

Finding Your Brave in Supervision with Donna Ward-HiggsAbout the Guest:Donna Ward-Higgs, a coach, mentor, facilitator, and trainer with a career in people development spanning more than 25 years. Drawing from her own experiences with "the good, the bad and the ugly of workplace leadership," Donna is passionate about fostering emotionally intelligent leaders, teams, and workplaces. She believes that learning is a human "superpower" and focuses on designing impactful learning experiences that help people build self-awareness about who they are and the impact they have on others. Ultimately, her work is about helping people unlock their ability to grow, develop, and succeed, even in the most challenging of situations.About the Episode:Welcome back to the second season of The Courageous Coach podcast! In this compelling episode, your host Melissa is joined by the fabulous Donna Ward-Higgs for a candid and insightful conversation about a crucial, yet often overlooked, aspect of coaching: courage in supervision. Have you ever hesitated to share a client challenge in supervision for fear of judgment? Or wondered about the unspoken power dynamics between you and your supervisor? Melissa and Donna, both experienced coaches and supervisors, dive deep into the complexities and vulnerabilities of the supervisory relationship. They explore what it truly means to be courageous in supervision, how it enhances your practice, and what happens when fear holds you back. This episode is a must-listen for coaches at all stages of their journey, offering reassurance that you are not alone in your fears and providing practical wisdom on how to "honour the investment" in your professional and personal growth. In this episode, you’ll learn:The Power of Vulnerability: Why feeling fear and being vulnerable in supervision is not only normal but a fertile ground for learning. Group vs. One-on-One Supervision: A look at the unique dynamics of each format, from the "wisdom of the group" to the challenges of comparison. Navigating Power Dynamics: How the language of "supervision" can create a sense of hierarchy and how to co-create a more empowering relationship with your supervisor. "Honouring Your Investment": A powerful reframing of supervision that goes beyond the financial cost to encompass your time, energy, and vulnerability. What We Avoid: An honest discussion about the topics coaches often shy away from in supervision, including shame and the fear of not being "advanced enough." Choosing and Leaving a Supervisor: Insights on how to deliberately select a supervisor who meets your current needs and the courage it takes to walk away when a supervisory relationship is no longer serving you. Supervision as a Mirror: Discover how the challenges and patterns that show up in supervision are often a direct reflection of what's happening in your coaching practice. Go Deeper with The Courageous Coach ProgramIf these conversations are resonating, you might be ready to go deeper. The Courageous Coach program is designed for qualified coaches in the early years of building their independent practice. If you want to coach with more courage, clarity, and humanity and grow a business that truly reflects who you are, this is for you.You can find all the details here: https://www.melissahague.com/courageous-coaches Connect with MelissaCome and find Melissa on LinkedIn. Whether you have questions about the program, want to share what resonated from this episode, or just fancy a chat, she'd love to connect.Support the Podcast:Follow & Subscribe: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe so you don't miss what's coming next.Share with a fellow coach: Know someone who could use a little courage boost? Pass this episode on—courage is contagious, after all.Thanks again for listening. Until next time, stay curious, stay human and keep choosing courage.

THE COURAGEOUS COACH PODCAST - SEASON 2Get ready to dig deeper into what it REALLY means to coach with courage.WHAT TO EXPECT THIS SEASONSeason 2 is fast approaching, and we're not holding back! Host Melissa Hague returns with her signature blend of heart, honesty, and humanity as we dive deeper into the messy, magical world of courageous coaching.This isn't your typical coaching podcast. We're done with the glossy, perfect narratives. Instead, you'll hear from:Real coaches doing brave work - not celebrities or internet famous names, but everyday practitioners who are showing up authentically with their clients.Honest conversations about the messy bits - because let's face it, courage isn't always pretty.People who've shaped Melissa's own journey - the challengers, the inspirers, the game-changers who showed up when she needed it most.THE SEASON 2 PROMISEIf Season 1 was about naming courage in coaching, Season 2 is about living it daily. We're exploring:How courage shows up in your day-to-day practiceHow we choose courage (and how we lose it)How we keep coming back to it, even when it's hardPlus: Two special episodes at the end that have Melissa both excited AND nervous to share. Trust us, you won't want to miss these.LAUNCH DETAILSFirst Episode Drops: Thursday, July 24th  Where: Wherever you get your podcastsWHY THIS MATTERSIn a world full of coaching advice that feels disconnected from reality, The Courageous Coach Podcast celebrates the everyday courage that makes great coaching possible. It's about imperfect humans doing important work - and that includes you.🎧 READY TO DIVE IN?Hit that follow button NOW so you don't miss a single episode of honest conversations and real talk about what it takes to coach with courage.Love what you hear? Rate and review the show - it helps other coaches find us and honestly means the world to Melissa.Here's to another season of showing up with more heart, more honesty, and more humanity in your coaching work.The Courageous Coach Podcast - where coaching gets real and courage gets practical.

 Season One FinaleIn this heartfelt season finale, host Melissa Hague reflects on the journey of the Courageous Coach podcast's first season. She revisits key insights from her conversations with remarkable coaches who shared their personal experiences with courage in coaching.Episode Highlights:Different Faces of Courage: Jessie Buscombe revealed that courage often feels like discomfort rather than bravery, and sometimes others recognize your courage before you doThe Power of Vulnerability: Mark Townsend emphasized that "the courage to not know" and exploring answers together with clients can be transformativeAuthenticity in Coaching: Jane Gilham stressed that showing up as our whole selves creates safety for clients to do the sameSmall Acts of Courage: June Hogan defined courageous coaching as "bringing my whole self into the space—not just my coach self, my human self"The Ripple Effect: Gayle Tong shared how "when I see someone else taking a courageous step, I think, if they can do that, why not me?"Beyond Models: Kerry Laker-Fry observed that coaching maturity isn't about collecting more tools but "trusting yourself enough to put them down and just be present"Listener Challenge:Melissa invites listeners to reflect on how their courage has grown throughout the season and identify where they might still be playing small. She encourages everyone to take one courageous action this week, reminding us that "courage grows with practice."What's Next:Connect with Melissa on LinkedIn or via email at [email protected] in autumn 2025: The Courageous Coach Program, for coaches ready to go beyond techniques and embody courage in their workSeason Two is in development and will bring more conversations about courage in coaching"This isn't goodbye. It's just a pause. And I can't wait to bring you more conversations, more insights and more courage when we return for season two."

About the Jane Gilham:Jane is an experienced HR leader and coach, who is passionate about people, understands how they drive business performance and most importantly what support they need to thrive. Working at board level for 20+ years in Human Resourcing, her support of C-suite and leadership teams to achieve rapid business growth through MBO and PE investment has been a significant feature of her career to date, underpinned by leading, establishing, and growing HR teams to develop and implement the People Strategy. She combines her skills as a consultant, interim and coach to nurture growth with individuals or team, and at the heart of her coaching practice is ability to work with others to have meaningful and hard conversations, that drives growth and have a lasting impact in the personal and professional lives. She is also a volunteer youth coach. Jane is CIPD certified, a member of the Association of Coaching, Dare to Lead™ Trained and part of the Henley School for Coaching Alumni.Links:www.awarenesscoachinghr.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-gilham-8765a32b/About the episode:In this conversation, Melissa and Jane explore the themes of courageous coaching, the importance of vulnerability, active listening, self-care, and the ongoing journey of personal growth. Jane shares her experiences transitioning from a corporate HR career to coaching, emphasizing the significance of being authentic and present with clients. They discuss the challenges of self-compassion, the emotional aspects of coaching, and the process of rebranding and redefining identity in the coaching space. In this conversation, Jane Gilham shares her journey of self-discovery, courage, and personal growth. She discusses the importance of finding purpose, the challenges of transitioning from a corporate career, and the value of reflection and journaling. Jane emphasizes the significance of courageous conversations in both personal and professional relationships, and how embracing vulnerability has led to a more meaningful life. The discussion highlights the transformative power of courage and the impact it can have on coaching and personal connections.Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction and Background05:51 - The Importance of Active Listening12:00 - Facing Change: Rebranding and Identity15:00 - The Ongoing Journey of Courage Building22:40 - Finding Purpose and Value in Life29:32 - The Power of Reflection and Journaling36:11 - Courageous Conversations and Relationships39:04 - Embracing Vulnerability and Meaningful LivingYou can find out more about the work I do to help coaches be more courageous with their clients, their business and their lives by:Visiting my website - https://www.melissahague.com/courageous-coachesConnect with me on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/melissa-hagueSign up to my mailing list here - https://mailinglistsignup.melissahague.com/landing-page-8347Or, If you’d like chat about all thing’s courage, then you can book a chat with me here - https://calendly.com/melissahague/let-s-talk

About the Mark Townsend:I help leaders step into their full potential with courage, clarity, and confidence.With over 25 years of experience in the education sector, I specialise in empowering professionals to lead with authenticity, navigate challenges with resilience, and create lasting impact in their organisations. I have worked closely with many head teachers, deputy head teachers, SENCOs, Phase Leaders, Heads of Year, and class teachers, as well as professionals from other industries.As an Executive Coach, I take a client-centred, non-directive, and non-judgmental approach, ensuring that your unique journey remains at the heart of our conversations.I truly believe that people are capable of incredible growth, and nothing excites me more than being a part of that transformation. I am also Dare to LeadTM trained—an experience that was both transformative and life-changing. Inspired by Brené Brown’s work on courage and vulnerability in leadership, I integrate these powerful principles into my coaching, helping clients build confidence, foster meaningful connections, and lead with integrity.Whether you're an aspiring leader looking to elevate your career or a seasoned executive seeking a fresh perspective, I provide a space for deep reflection, strategi action, and transformational growth.Links:Website - https://marktownsendcoaching.com/About the episode:In this episode of the Courageous Coach podcast, Melissa and Mark Townsend explore the themes of courageous coaching, vulnerability, self-awareness, and self-love. Mark shares his journey from being a primary school teacher to a leadership development coach, emphasizing the importance of embracing vulnerability in coaching. They discuss the difference between transformational and transactional coaching, the significance of self-compassion, and the challenges of leaning into discomfort. Mark reflects on his personal growth and the courage it takes to navigate change in both his professional and personal life. In this conversation, Mark Townsend discusses his journey of navigating change in his professional life, emphasizing the importance of support systems and the courage to ask for help. He reflects on the transformative learning experiences he has had in building courage, setting boundaries, and extending generosity towards others. The dialogue highlights the significance of continuous growth and self-awareness in both personal and professional contexts, ultimately fostering resilience and connection.Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction to Courageous Coaching02:51 - Mark's Journey in Education and Coaching08:47 - The Power of Self-Awareness and Self-Love12:03 - Transformational vs. Transactional Coaching14:49 - The Importance of Self-Compassion21:00 - Mark's Call to Courage and Embracing Change28:07 - The Power of Support and Connection31:30 - The Courage to Ask for Help39:08 - Living Big: Boundaries, Integrity, and GenerosityYou can find out more about the work I do to help coaches be more courageous with their clients, their business and their lives by:Visiting my website - https://www.melissahague.com/courageous-coachesConnect with me on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/melissa-hagueSign up to my mailing list here - https://mailinglistsignup.melissahague.com/landing-page-8347Or, If you’d like chat about all thing’s courage, then you can book a chat with me here - https://calendly.com/melissahague/let-s-talk

About the Jessie Buscombe:Jessie is a former Senior Civil Servant who is now a team and leadership coach. Since establishing her coaching practice in 2020, Jessie has worked with leaders in central, regional and local government organisations, where she is passionate about helping individuals and teams find joy in their work whilst enhancing their performance. Through her work, Jessie has focused on how she can support organisations to create (and maintain) leadership teams that deliver better outcomes for citizens. She has also written widely on what individual leaders can learn from their career change and transition.In addition to her coaching practice, Jessie is a policy consultant focusing on skills and economic growth. Jessie has authorised reports, advised governments on future skills policy, and led projects to increase collaboration between businesses and government. She currently chairs the City of Westminster’s Education, Employment, and Skills Board, which brings partners across the borough to help Westminster residents achieve their potential and assist employers in recruiting local talent.https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessie-buscombe/ to learn more about Jessie’s work or connect with her.About the episode:In this episode of the Courageous Coach podcast, Melissa and Jessie Buscombe explore the themes of courage, discomfort, and authenticity in coaching. Jessie shares her journey from a civil service career to becoming a coach, discussing the challenges and benefits of this transition. They delve into the nature of courage, emphasizing that it often involves discomfort and vulnerability, and how recognizing this can empower individuals to embrace their true selves in their coaching practice. The conversation highlights the importance of safety, choice, and belonging in the coaching profession, encouraging coaches to lean into their individuality while maintaining core values. In this conversation, Melissa and Jessie explore the essential themes of authenticity, resilience, and self-assessment in the coaching profession. They discuss the importance of connecting with clients on a personal level, the challenges of dealing with rejection, and the need for coaches to redefine success in a self-employed context. The dialogue emphasizes the significance of self-reflection and the power of feedback, ultimately highlighting that courage is a fundamental aspect of effective coaching.Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction to Courageous Coaching03:05 - Jessie's Journey from Civil Service to Coaching05:47 - Understanding Courage in Coaching11:54 - Courage vs. Comfort: A Choice17:59 - Embracing Authenticity in Coaching20:53 - Finding Belonging in the Coaching Profession30:25 - Navigating Rejection and Building Resilience40:15 - The Power of Self-Assessment and FeedbackYou can find out more about the work I do to help coaches be more courageous with their clients, their business and their lives by:Visiting my website - https://www.melissahague.com/courageous-coachesConnect with me on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/melissa-hagueSign up to my mailing list here - https://mailinglistsignup.melissahague.com/landing-page-8347Or, If you’d like chat about all thing’s courage, then you can book a chat with me here - https://calendly.com/melissahague/let-s-talk

About the Donna Higgs-Ward:I am Donna, a coach, mentor, facilitator and trainer and I love designing, developing and leading impactful learning experiences that achieve tangible results.I’ve experienced the good, the bad and the ugly of workplace leadership and management, I truly understand the impact it has for everyone involved. That’s why I am so passionate about developing emotionally intelligent leaders, teams and workplaces. When we build our awareness about who we are, how we show up, and the impact we have on those around us, we open up choices to build on our strengths, embrace our challenges, and achieve our aspirations.I think humans are pretty awesome – it’s probably why I have always been passionate about people development throughout my 25yr+ career – we have this super power we can tap into at will; the ability to learn. Through our learning superpowers we can grow, develop, achieve and succeed in even the most challenging of situations. That’s exactly what I help you to unlock!LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-ward-higgs-miol-mcmi-8194a969/Website: https://learningpartnersolutions.com/About the episode:In this episode of the Courageous Coach podcast, Melissa and Donna Ward-Higgs explore the themes of learning, personal development, and the courage it takes to build meaningful connections in the coaching profession. They discuss the importance of emotional intelligence, the role of personal growth in professional success, and how their shared experiences have shaped their coaching journeys. The conversation emphasizes the significance of self-awareness and the impact of one's presence in the coaching space, ultimately highlighting the transformative power of courage in both personal and professional realms. In this engaging conversation, Melissa and Donna explore the intricate balance between coaching and supervision, emphasizing the importance of personal development for coaches. They discuss the evolving landscape of coaching in the context of AI and the significance of humanity in the profession. The dialogue delves into the continuous journey of courage, the role of intentionality and awareness, and how curiosity and vulnerability are essential components of courageous acts. Ultimately, they highlight that courage is not an inherent trait but something that can be cultivated through awareness and choice.Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction to Courageous Coaching05:00 - The Power of Learning and Development15:02 - The Role of Personal Development in Coaching20:01 - Evolving as a Coach: From Theory to Practice25:49 - The Importance of Personal Development in Coaching27:41 - The Impact of AI on Coaching and Humanity30:54 - Courage: A Continuous Journey38:31 - Curiosity and Vulnerability as Courageous Acts45:56 - Recognizing and Cultivating Inner CourageYou can find out more about the work I do to help coaches be more courageous with their clients, their business and their lives by:Visiting my website - https://www.melissahague.com/courageous-coachesConnect with me on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/melissa-hagueSign up to my mailing list here - https://mailinglistsignup.melissahague.com/landing-page-8347Or, If you’d like chat about all thing’s courage, then you can book a chat with me here - https://calendly.com/melissahague/let-s-talk

About the Gayle Tong:With my roots in retail, it’s the 20 years’ experience working in a retail environment that has made me the pragmatic, realistic coach I am today. I’ve been a qualified coach since 2017, along with this, my background in learning & development, means I love understanding what makes people tick.My style of coaching is informal, it’s conversational and it’s all about you.  I’m not all about models and theory, although I do believe they have their time & place.I’m a big believer in taking small courageous actions that move you forward to achieving your goals.  And as your coach, I will always encourage you to be more courageous, to pull up your big pants to take action, because without action nothing changes. Overall, where confidence building is concerned, I love to have an impact on those beliefs you have about what you think you can & cannot do, so that you can become the best confident, authentic version of you.Links:https://www.enrichmentcoaching.co.uk/https://www.linkedin.com/in/gayletong/https://www.instagram.com/enrichment_coaching/About the episode:In this episode of the Courageous Coach podcast, host Melissa engages with Gail Tong, a confidence-building coach, to explore the themes of authenticity, courage, and personal development in coaching. Gail shares her journey from retail to coaching, emphasizing the importance of understanding oneself to build confidence. The conversation delves into the concept of courageous coaching, the significance of finding one's coaching style, and the ongoing journey of learning and growth in the coaching profession. They discuss the interplay between courage and vulnerability, and how these elements shape the coaching experience for both the coach and the client. In this conversation, Gayle and Melissa explore the themes of vulnerability, courage, self-compassion, and the realities of running a coaching business. They discuss the importance of support systems, the practice of self-compassion, and the continuous journey of building confidence. The dialogue emphasizes the significance of authenticity in coaching relationships and the necessity of leaning into courage during both peaks and troughs in business. They also touch on the value of mentoring and the shared experiences that enrich these relationships, ultimately highlighting that everyday courage is essential for both coaches and clients.Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction to Confidence Coaching02:55 - The Journey to Confidence Building05:49 - Courageous Coaching: Stretching Beyond Comfort14:58 - The Role of Courage in Coaching25:54 - The Power of Vulnerability in Courage27:30 - Self-Compassion as a Practice31:20 - The Importance of Authenticity in Coaching42:30 - Everyday Courage in CoachingYou can find out more about the work I do to help coaches be more courageous with their clients, their business and their lives by:Visiting my website - https://www.melissahague.com/courageous-coachesConnect with me on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/melissa-hagueSign up to my mailing list here - https://mailinglistsignup.melissahague.com/landing-page-8347Or, If you’d like chat about all thing’s courage, then you can book a chat with me here - https://calendly.com/melissahague/let-s-talk

About the Michelle Gooding:Michelle is an experienced former GP turned Coach. She is a coach for the Joyful Doctor, a national Coaching organisation specialising in doctors' wellbeing and has her own coaching business, The GP Coach.  Michelle now coaches and supports overworked and overstretched doctors helping them avoid burnout and do the work they love.  She also works with doctors who are recovering from burnout, helping them to transform their experience of burnout into sustainable wellbeingWebsite: www.thegpcoach.co.ukThe ‘Blob Tree’ tool: https://www.blobtree.com/About the episode:In this episode of the Courageous Coaching podcast, Melissa and Michelle discuss the journey of transitioning from a GP to a coach specializing in doctors' wellbeing. They explore the importance of courage in coaching, the challenges of marketing oneself, and the creative techniques that can enhance the coaching experience. Michelle shares her insights on personal development, intuition, and the ripple effect of courage in both her life and the lives of her clients. The conversation emphasizes the ongoing nature of courage-building and the human connection that is central to effective coaching.Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction to Courageous Coaching02:53 - The Journey from GP to Coaching06:00 - Courageous Marketing and Visibility08:57 - The Role of Courage in Personal Development12:01 - Intuition and Courage in Coaching14:52 - Creative Techniques in Coaching18:08 - The Impact of Courage on Coaching Style21:04 - Looking Forward: Future Courageous Steps24:09 - The Ripple Effect of Courage27:00 - Conclusion and Final ThoughtsYou can find out more about the work I do to help coaches be more courageous with their clients, their business and their lives by:Visiting my website - https://www.melissahague.com/courageous-coachesConnect with me on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/melissa-hagueSign up to my mailing list here - https://mailinglistsignup.melissahague.com/landing-page-8347Or, If you’d like chat about all thing’s courage, then you can book a chat with me here - https://calendly.com/melissahague/let-s-talk

About the Kerry Laker-Frry:Kerry Laker-Fry is a Learning & Development professional and the founder of SHE: The Success Coach, a company aimed at helping women develop the confidence and capability they need for career success. Kerry supports people to achieve career goals and organisations to grow talent. Her mission – to challenge people’s thinking and inspire action one conversation at a time – has seen her create learning communities, publish work celebrating women's stories, and share her own ‘hero and zero’ moments to normalise the learning process.  A self-confessed collector of ideas and enthusiastic list maker, you can find Kerry on LinkedIn for career development ideas and inspiration.LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kerry-laker-fryAbout the episode:In this episode of the Courageous Coach podcast, Melissa interviews Kerry Laker-Fry, a coach with a decade of experience in both corporate and personal coaching. Kerry shares her journey of embracing courage in coaching, the importance of authenticity, and her passion for empowering women. They discuss the challenges of transitioning from internal to external coaching, the impact of historical perceptions on women's capabilities, and the courage it takes to write a book. The conversation emphasizes the significance of staying true to one's path and the discomfort that often accompanies growth and learning.Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction to Kerry Laker-Fry02:23 - Courageous Coaching: A Personal Journey07:49 - Bringing Authenticity to Coaching12:14 - Navigating Internal vs. External Coaching21:00 - Empowering Women: The Mission Behind Coaching24:09 - The Impact of History on Women's Perception27:29 - The Courage to Write a Book34:40 - Staying in Your Lane: The Courage of Comparison38:43 - Final Thoughts on Courage in CoachingYou can find out more about the work I do to help coaches be more courageous with their clients, their business and their lives by:Visiting my website - https://www.melissahague.com/courageous-coachesConnect with me on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/melissa-hagueSign up to my mailing list here - https://mailinglistsignup.melissahague.com/landing-page-8347Or, If you’d like chat about all thing’s courage, then you can book a chat with me here - https://calendly.com/melissahague/let-s-talk

About the Cath Longhurst:Cath is a leadership coach and facilitator with 20 years’ experience of running a social enterprise/charity and more than 4 years’ experience working with senior leaders in a wide range of organisations. Her business, Cath Longhurst Consulting Ltd, runs  leadership coaching for senior leaders. managers and teams and supports leadership teams and boards with strategy and change management. She specialises in working with organisations with a social purpose. Cath’s approach helps leaders to find their own internal expertise, develop grounded confidence and gain insights into how their own behaviours and emotions impact on their work with others. Her experience of leading a charity and working with a wide range of people, combined with her coaching training and development, means she brings a blend of practical business acumen, combined with an ability to connect with and support others. Some of her key coaching influences include the work of Brene Brown, Susan David, Nancy Kline and Oliver Burkeman. Cah is an Accredited Executive Coach through the Association for Coaching. She is an Honorary Fellow of the University of Portsmouth her work in the community and was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Portsmouth business community. Alongside her passion for seeing people grow and develop, Cath is a lover of the outdoors including being an all-round sea swimmer, walker and sailor.About the episode:In this episode of the Courageous Coach podcast, Melissa and Cath explore the journey of courageous coaching, focusing on Cath's transition from a secure job to becoming a coach. They discuss the importance of connection, vulnerability, and trust in coaching, as well as the impact of courageous actions on personal growth. Cath shares her experiences working with diverse clients and emphasizes the significance of helping clients discover their own expertise. In this conversation, Melissa and Cath explore the themes of trust, self-compassion, personal development, and the importance of values in coaching. They discuss how understanding trust has helped them connect better with themselves and others, the journey of personal growth, and the challenges of living into one's values. The conversation emphasizes the discomfort that often accompanies courage and the necessity of embracing life's messiness as part of the human experience.Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction to Courageous Coaching05:55 - Diverse Coaching Experiences12:02 - Vulnerability in Coaching17:52 - The Impact of Courage on Personal Growth25:21 - The Journey of Personal Development30:31 - The Challenge of Living into Our Values36:04 - Embracing the Messiness of LifeYou can find out more about the work I do to help coaches be more courageous with their clients, their business and their lives by:Visiting my website - https://www.melissahague.com/courageous-coachesConnect with me on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/melissa-hagueSign up to my mailing list here - https://mailinglistsignup.melissahague.com/landing-page-8347Or, If you’d like chat about all thing’s courage, then you can book a chat with me here - https://calendly.com/melissahague/let-s-talk

About the June Hogan:With over 25 years in the people profession, June brings a wealth of experience in HR operations and career development. She holds a Post Graduate Diploma in HR and is an ICF Certified Professional Coach, which she achieved in 2017. Since 2019, she has been dedicated to Career Coaching and Outplacement Support through her own successful practice.June has collaborated with individuals across all organisational levels, from emerging managers to senior leaders, across a range of industries. She has become a trusted partner for those navigating career transitions and facing redundancy. Her clients describe her coaching style as empathetic, insightful, and transformative.Her coaching philosophy centres around creating a safe and reflective space.  With a gentle curiosity, June serves as a thought partner, helping clients uncover deeper insights and achieve clarity on their next steps. Her approach is rooted in understanding each individual’s unique situation, identifying what truly matters to them, and equipping them to thrive in their careers.Website: https://wildwoodcoaching.co.uk/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/junehogan/About the episode:In this episode of the Courageous Coach Podcast, Melissa speaks with June Hogan, a seasoned HR professional turned coach, about her journey through redundancy and how it shaped her coaching practice. June shares her insights on the importance of empathy in coaching, the role of courageous coaching, and the challenges faced by individuals during life-changing events like redundancy. They discuss the significance of preparing line managers for difficult conversations and the need for a human connection in coaching. June emphasizes the liberating power of courage and the importance of embracing one's identity as a businesswoman.Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction to June Hogan02:36 - Navigating Redundancy and Life Changes03:09 - The Role of Coaching in Outplacement Support06:13 - Courageous Coaching: Authenticity and Vulnerability10:32 - Empathy vs. Sympathy in Coaching12:52 - Preparing Line Managers for Difficult Conversations17:35 - Building Courage in Clients21:57 - Balancing Vulnerability and Challenge in Coaching31:13 - Embracing Business Identity and Growth38:01 - The Liberating Power of CourageYou can find out more about the work I do to help coaches be more courageous with their clients, their business and their lives by:Visiting my website - https://www.melissahague.com/courageous-coachesConnect with me on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/melissa-hagueSign up to my mailing list here - https://mailinglistsignup.melissahague.com/landing-page-8347Or, If you’d like chat about all thing’s courage, then you can book a chat with me here - https://calendly.com/melissahague/let-s-talk

About the Amy Wilkinson:Amy Wilkinson is the founder of Fearless Foodies, a coaching and training company dedicated to empowering professionals in the food industry to communicate with confidence, influence, and impact.  After more than two decades in new product development, commercial and marketing roles within corporate food manufacturing, Amy took the leap to start her own coaching business four years ago.  Drawing on her wealth of industry experience and her passion for people, she now delivers transformative workshops and coaching that inspire emotionally intelligent leadership and confident communication. Known for her engaging and relatable style, Amy helps individuals embrace their unique voice, navigate challenges with courage, and achieve their personal and professional goals by feeling the fear and doing it anyway. Websites:www. fearlessfoodies.co.ukwww.ohforfoodssake.co.ukAbout the episode:In this episode of the Courageous Coach podcast, Amy shares her transformative journey from a corporate career in food manufacturing to becoming a coach and founder of Fearless Foodies. She discusses the challenges of navigating vulnerability, the importance of systemic change in the coaching industry, and how her experiences with burnout shaped her approach to coaching. Amy emphasises the significance of courage in personal growth and the necessity of setting boundaries while being vulnerable. In this conversation, Amy and Melissa explore the themes of self-belief, courage, and authenticity in the coaching journey. They discuss the importance of community, the challenges of imposter syndrome, and the necessity of self-compassion in personal growth. The dialogue emphasises that true courage lies in being oneself and embracing imperfections while navigating the complexities of life and work.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction to Courageous Coaching06:47 - The Shift from Individual to Systemic Change20:06 - The Impact of Courage on Personal Growth28:29 - Embracing Change and Growth41:34 - Courage in AuthenticityYou can find out more about the work I do to help coaches be more courageous with their clients, their business and their lives by:Visiting my website - https://www.melissahague.com/courageous-coachesConnect with me on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/melissa-hagueSign up to my mailing list here - https://mailinglistsignup.melissahague.com/landing-page-8347Or, If you’d like chat about all thing’s courage, then you can book a chat with me here - https://calendly.com/melissahague/let-s-talk

About your host Melissa Hague: In the inaugural episode of the Courageous Coach podcast, Melissa Hague introduces the theme of courage in coaching. She shares her background in leadership development and her journey into coaching, emphasizing the importance of vulnerability and authenticity. Melissa discusses how courage is essential for both coaches and clients, allowing for real transformation. The episode sets the stage for future conversations with other coaches about their courageous journeys and the challenges they face in the coaching business.Episode Takeaways:Courage is essential for effective coaching.Vulnerability allows for deeper connections with clients.Real change happens in a space of trust and authenticity.Coaching is about embodying leadership, not just teaching it.The journey of a coach involves personal growth and inner work.Courage in coaching also applies to building a business.Imposter syndrome is a common challenge for coaches.Honesty and realness are more valuable than perfection.Sharing stories can inspire bravery in others.The podcast will feature raw conversations about coaching journeys.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction to Courageous Coaching02:58 - Melissa's Journey and the Importance of Courage06:00 - Courage in Coaching and Business09:09 - Looking Ahead: Conversations with Courageous CoachesYou can find out more about the work I do to help coaches be more courageous withtheir clients, their business and their lives by:Visiting my website - https://www.melissahague.com/courageous-coachesConnect with me on LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/melissa-hagueSign up to my mailing list here - https://mailinglistsignup.melissahague.com/landing-page-8347Or, If you’d like chat about all thing’s courage, then you can book a chat with mehere - https://calendly.com/melissahague/let-s-talk

What does it mean to be a Courageous Coach? This trailer brings you the right questions and just enough insight into the inaugural season starting Thursday, March 8th at 8 am (GMT) and a new episode hosted by Melissa Hague and interviewing courageous coaches will be released each week thereafter. Follow, favourite or subscribe to The Courageous Coach now, on your favourite podcast platform and don't miss out on each new episode