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Episode: The Human Zone: Why AI Can't Replace Coaches | Mitch Matthews
Host: Ryan Alford (The Radcast Network)
Guest: Mitch Matthews
Date: October 3, 2025

Overview

In this energizing episode, host Ryan Alford sits down with renowned keynote speaker, coach, and "Dream Think Do" podcast host Mitch Matthews to explore why, even in an age of AI, human-led coaching, mentoring, and consulting remain irreplaceable. The discussion reveals the nuances of defining personal success, the real landscape of coaching as a business, the myth of imposter syndrome, and how authentic, value-driven connection is every professional’s competitive edge. Mitch also shares deep industry insights on evolving your brand around real stories, the “human zone,” and actionable frameworks to help yourself and others dream—and experience—bigger.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Defining Success and the Role of a Coach

(02:42 – 04:29)

• Unique Definition of Success: Mitch emphasizes that true success is self-defined, not externally imposed.

  “Success is unique to each person, but most people don’t define it. The people that are the most successful often have defined what success is for them.” – Mitch Matthews (02:42)

• Profit, Impact, Variety: Coaching and speaking can be layered onto established careers, not requiring a total life overhaul, to generate new income streams and expand impact.

  “We help wildly successful people…to add coaching and speaking to what they do…so they can have more impact, more income, and some variety in their life.” – Mitch Matthews (04:30)

2. The "Everyone's a Coach" Perception and Building a Real Business

(05:35 – 07:41)

• Myth vs. Reality: Although the coaching field appears crowded, 85–90% lack business training and a viable business model.

  “About 85, probably maybe tipping over to 90% of the people that call themselves coaches don’t actually have a viable business.” – Mitch Matthews (06:03)

• Success Without Scale: Having a massive online following isn’t necessary if you have clarity about your target audience and how you serve them.

  “We have people that have 200 followers on Instagram but have a $200,000 coaching business because they know what they deliver and who they serve.” – Mitch Matthews (07:16)

3. Focusing on Value, Not Competition

(07:45 – 08:54)

• Comparison Kills Progress: Social media intensifies unhelpful comparison.

  “Don't focus on the competition. Focus on helping those people you’re passionate about helping in tangible ways.” – Mitch Matthews (08:41)

• Framework of Self-Defined Success: Coaches should help clients build success frameworks around their own values—not societal expectations.

4. Overcoming the Imposter Syndrome (aka “Winner Syndrome”)

(10:34 – 11:35)

• Reframing Hesitation as Growth: The sense of not being ‘qualified’ often signals you’re stretching into meaningful work.

  “The imposter syndrome only hits people who are stepping out and doing big things…take that as yes, I’m actually on the verge of doing something big. That’s Winner syndrome, not imposter syndrome.” – Mitch Matthews (10:34)

5. Teach from Your Journey, Not the Destination

(11:39 – 14:32)

• Ongoing Relevance: Sharing your ongoing lessons and failures is more relatable—and sustainable—than only touting end results.

  “Don’t focus on the destination. Teach from your journey…You never run out of content.” – Mitch Matthews (13:25)

• Authentic Content: This approach aligns perfectly with effective modern social media strategies.

  “You just gave the playbook for modern social media too. Like, that’s what it should be.” – Ryan Alford (14:32)

6. The Human Zone: Why AI Can't Replace Coaching

(14:43 – 16:51)

• AI vs. Human Connection: While AI may automate questions, it can’t replicate accountability, trust, and safe space creation—the “human zone.”

  “From an accountability standpoint, from a trust, from creating a safe space, that's the human zone.” – Mitch Matthews (15:57)

• Maximize Both AI and Humanity: Leverage AI for efficiency, but double down on uniquely human qualities in coaching and consulting.

7. The Power of Questions and Real Experience

(16:51 – 18:31)

• Question-Based Coaching: Effective coaches use questions—grounded in neuroscience—to help clients draw out their own solutions.

  “...Questions draw out the value from your client…That was a solution that she owned.” – Mitch Matthews (17:51)

• Confidence and Validation: Sometimes, what clients need most is validation and someone in their corner.

  “I pay you an insane amount of money to help me know that I know what I’m doing.” [CEO client, according to Mitch Matthews] (17:52)

8. Practical Coaching Tools: The Leader’s Questions

(18:31 – 20:07)

• Universal Questions: Two key questions increase understanding and accountability:
  1. What did you hear?
  2. What’s something you’re going to do because of it?
• These are applicable beyond coaching, including in healthcare and corporate leadership.

9. Dreaming Bigger: The Experience Mindset

(20:07 – 22:41)

• Separate Dreaming, Thinking, Doing: Give yourself permission to dream before you plan or strategize.

  “Give yourself space and time to dream without thinking too early, without planning too early.” – Mitch Matthews (20:24)

• “Experience” vs. “Dream”: For some, the word “dream” feels too abstract or intimidating. Swap it for “experience” to clarify and motivate actionable aspirations.

  “What are some things I’d love to experience in the next year with my family or with my team?” – Mitch Matthews (22:05)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Defining Success:

  “The fastest way to miss the target is to not know what it is.” – Ryan Alford (03:16)

• On Coaching in the Age of AI:

  "There’s a lot of people, 'Oh, AI is going to be the death of coaching.' It’s going to be the death of some types of coaches…But maximize the human zone." – Mitch Matthews (14:43)

• On Real Impact:

  “Teach from your journey...If you teach from the destination, you tend to run out of stories, out of credibility…When you teach from the journey, you build credibility and connect with that ideal client.” – Mitch Matthews (13:32)

• On Overcoming Imposter Syndrome:

  “‘Imposter syndrome’ probably would be better defined as ‘winner syndrome’…” – Mitch Matthews (10:34)

• On Dreaming Bigger:

  “Flip the word ‘dream’ with ‘experience.’ What are some things I’d love to experience in the next year?” – Mitch Matthews (22:05)

Important Timestamps

• Defining Success & The Role of a Coach: 02:42 – 04:29
• Crowded Coaching Space?: 05:35 – 07:41
• Beating Competition with Value: 07:45 – 08:54
• Addressing Imposter Syndrome: 10:34 – 11:35
• Teaching Through Journey (Not Just Success): 11:39 – 14:32
• How AI & Coaching Really Intersect: 14:43 – 16:51
• Power of Questions in Coaching: 16:51 – 18:31
• Universal Questions for Leaders: 18:31 – 20:07
• Dreaming and the Experience Mindset: 20:07 – 22:41

Further Resources

• Connect with Mitch Matthews: mitchmatthews.com
  • Weekly "Four Things" email: mitchmatthews.com/fourthings
• Host:
  • Ryan Alford on all social platforms: @ryanalford
  • Show highlights & full episodes: ryanisright.com

Tone & Language:
The episode is straight-talking, humorous, and full of practical wisdom—just as you’d expect from two successful entrepreneurs committed to cutting through business “fluff.” Mitch and Ryan’s banter makes the episode as entertaining as it is insightful for entrepreneurs, coaches, and anyone considering building a business on real value in a digital world.