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Talking about Coaching

Talking about Coaching

By: Yannick Jacob Siwash Zahmat & Nicki Drab
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Does what it says on the tin: We talk about coaching. We, that is Yannick, Siwash and Nicki. We love coaching, collectively got a tonne of experience, knowledge and charm; and we all felt it was time to give something back to our wonderful coaching community. Whether you're a life coach, work with organisations or practice any other form of coaching, you can ask us anything and we'll discuss it for and with you so you can learn, grow and develop your practice and business skills!

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Episodes
  • Deep Dive: From Corporate to Coaching Classical Musicians with Ruth Cooper-Dickson

    Deep Dive: From Corporate to Coaching Classical Musicians with Ruth Cooper-Dickson
    Jun 25 2026
    Welcome to this episode of Talking about Coaching, the podcast from coaches for coaches. This episode is one of Yannick's deep dives into one topic or person and we’re talking about coaching with Ruth Cooper-Dickson who shares her inspiring journey from doing corporate work to coaching classical musicians, highlighting what it takes to break into a new line of work as well as innovative approaches to wellbeing and resilience through music and positive psychology. In July 2026 Ruth will be presenting the insights and learning from this journey at the European Conference for Positive Psychology (ECPP) in Dublin, and we thought it would be excellent to offer the conference audience (as well as a wider one) access to a deeper dive into how she made this dream happen, her approach to working with musicians and performers, and her experience along the way.KEY TOPICS- How to launch a successful coaching pilot- Building resilience and confidence in musicians- Community and relationship building through arts- Using strengths and values in coachingABOUT RUTHRuth Cooper-Dickson is an award-winning positive psychology practitioner, trauma-informed coach, and founder of Thrivership Coaching™. A published academic, her recent practitioner research focuses on classical musicians, and she has developed and delivered a positive psychology coaching programme for musicians and composers in collaboration with the Royal Philharmonic Society, bringing evidence-based wellbeing tools to the unique pressures of a life in classical music. Her earlier academic work explored post-traumatic growth and coaching, a thread that continues to underpin her practice.Ruth launched her wellbeing consultancy after her own experience of mental ill health, including Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, and chronic burnout. That lived experience sits at the heart of her work, where she helps individuals and organisations start open, honest, and human conversations about Mental Wealth. Her trauma-informed approach to thrivership coaching supports people to grow after adversity rather than simply recover from it. She has been a patron of the UK anxiety charity No Panic since 2018.Alongside her coaching, Ruth is a radio broadcaster who has hosted live since 2024, and a keynote speaker who has delivered talks for global brands, combining academic research with real-world insight. A certified breathwork leader and Mental Health First Aid Instructor of over a decade, she has trained thousands worldwide.Learn more about Ruth and her work at https://ruthcooperdickson.com/ Ruth on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruthiecoops/ Ruth’s Substack Coffee with Coops: https://ruthcooperdickson.substack.com/ Ruth’s Podcast Espresso with Coops: https://ruthcooperdickson.substack.com/podcastRuth’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthcooperdickson/ Listen to Ruth every Friday 0730-1000 BST as she hosts the Breakfast Show: https://www.chelmsfordcommunityradio.com/ Chapters00:00 Introduction to Coaching and Music03:11 Ruth's Journey into Positive Psychology and Coaching06:00 The Intersection of Music and Healing08:52 Creating a Coaching Program for Musicians12:07 The Structure and Goals of the Coaching Program15:08 Navigating the Unique Challenges of Classical Musicians18:00 The Role of an External Coach21:00 Feedback and Impact of the Coaching Program24:00 Personal Reflections and Lessons Learned33:51 Embracing Creativity and Growth36:14 Building Relationships in Coaching39:26 Collecting Stories and Experiences40:44 Identifying Personal Values and Strengths42:36 The Importance of Humility in Performance44:01 Creating Community Connections45:15 Leveraging AI for Program Development48:13 The Value of Pro Bono Work50:56 Reflections on the Program's Impact57:11 Future Opportunities and Collaborations_____________________________Never miss an episode by signing up to our mailing list:https://rocketsupervision.com/talking-about-coaching/Continue the conversation - Join the community!Whatsapp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/HLEWkFImuk60UQO2JA8HpA More deep dives into coaching at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEK9UENWT66D6uqPJhCznXNhc9Ba9jiteShort episodes of Talking about Coaching addressing specific questions: https://www.youtube.com/talkingaboutcoaching You can also find us on all major podcast platforms.If you'd like to support the Podcast, please consider a positive review, leave a comment or tell a friend or colleague about this episode.And did you know that you can see COACHING DEMOS from many of our podcast guests as part of Yannick's Coaching Lab. In the Lab you’re a “fly on the wall” for a 45min live coaching demo followed by Q&A and conversations with the coach and client and (optional) experimental breakouts in triads. Members of the Lab can re-watch recordings of sessions they’ve missed and VIP Members have access to the entire Vault of available coaching demos:- Become a member: https://gocoachinglab.com/- ...
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • AI in coaching - An update - Episode 99

    AI in coaching - An update - Episode 99
    May 28 2026

    We’ve had several questions around how coaches use Artificial Intelligence (AI) in coaching, may that be to grow your business, as part of the coaching, or to improve your coaching skills. Building on our previous two episodes on AI, this episode offers an update with regards to how coaches can utilize AI. We’re signposting to a few custom GPTs we’re using, prompt advise, and highlight both the value and the risks of using AI in coaching.

    See also:

    • Episode 91 - How can I use AI to be a better coach? (Part II)
    • Episode 89 - How can I use AI to be a better coach? (Part I)

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    If you'd like to stay up to date with new episodes, continue the conversation or generally support what we do:

    • Send us your question: http://bit.ly/talkingaboutcoaching
    • Sign up to our mailing list (no spam, no sales, just a quick shout about new episodes): https://rocketsupervision.com/talking-about-coaching/
    • Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG2c



    Support the show
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    46 mins
  • How to navigate the leadership paradox in coaching? - Episode 98

    How to navigate the leadership paradox in coaching? - Episode 98
    May 14 2026

    Experienced coaches know this: The more leadership we exhibit in coaching consultations, the easier it is to sign up clients, but the harder it is to then work with them “in partnership”, because we set up the relationship with certain expectations. But if we start with co-creating each part of the coaching relationship from the start, we lack the kind of certainty and confidence that helps clients to say yes to coaching with ease. This is what we may refer to as “the leadership paradox in coaching”, and today the Talking about Coaching Podcast hosts Yannick and Siwash are discussing how to navigate this challenge and strike the right balance.

    ____
    If you'd like to stay up to date with new episodes, continue the conversation or generally support what we do:

    • Send us your question: http://bit.ly/talkingaboutcoaching
    • Sign up to our mailing list (no spam, no sales, just a quick shout about new episodes): https://rocketsupervision.com/talking-about-coaching/
    • Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG2c



    Support the show
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    16 mins
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