Podcast
The Coach Approach Ministries Podcast
Hosted by Coach Approach Ministries · EN
Welcome to the Coach Approach Ministries Podcast! Coaching is a skillset and a mindset that helps people find focus, discover options and take action. At CAM, we train the very best Christian coaches in the world, and over the last decade, we've trained well over a thousand. Through this podcast, we want to share insights from the Coaching Community and help you to develop a broader understanding of coaching. You can find out more about us at www.coachapproachministries.org and sign up for our proven coach training.
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Episodes
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How Coaching Changes the Coach
1w ago00:24:09Tap to summarizeEpisode Overview Coaching is usually discussed in terms of what it does for the person being coached. In this episode, Brian turns the question around: What does coaching do to the coach? Drawing from more than fifteen years of coaching, Brian describes how the coaching mindset has changed the way he relates to other people, handles his own insights, and carries responsibility. Coaching has made him less individualistic, less compelled to give answers, and less likely to take ownership of problems that properly belong to someone else. More than a professional skill, coaching has become a way of understanding Christian community, personal maturity, leadership, friendship, marriage, and faith. Key Ideas 1. Coaching changes how we understand community Coaching is a fundamentally collaborative process. The coach is the expert in the conversation, while the client is the expert in the subject of the conversation. That partnership offers a picture of healthy community. People do not need to have identical strengths, roles, or perspectives in order to work together well. They contribute differently to something neither could create alone. For Brian, this has deepened his understanding of the body of Christ. Christian faith is personal, but it is not merely individual. We are joined together, dependent upon one another, and called to create something collectively that no single person could produce independently. 2. Coaching changes how we steward awareness Coaches regularly notice patterns, connections, and possible solutions before the client does. The temptation is to immediately share every insight. Brian has learned that an awareness does not go to waste simply because he chooses not to say it. When an insight is not immediately released, it can continue to work within the coach. It can mature, connect with other ideas, and produce greater depth. The discipline of not correcting, explaining, or contributing every thought has made him a better coach, trainer, leader, and person. 3. Coaching changes how we carry responsibility Responsibility is a strength, but it can become unhealthy when we take responsibility for things that properly belong to other people. Coaching has helped Brian ask: What is genuinely my responsibility? What belongs to the other person? How can I support someone without taking over? Can my presence help them carry what is theirs to carry? Sometimes helping means solving a problem. At other times, it means listening, encouraging, remaining present, or allowing another person to make a difficult decision. Memorable Quotes "I am a better person because I am a coach." "The coach is the expert of the conversation, but you are the expert of the topic." "That awareness that I don't share doesn't go to waste. It actually piles up in me, and it works on me." "I don't tend to grow when I share everything I know. I grow when I don't share everything I know." "Coaching has changed how I carry responsibility." "Christianity brings something to my coaching, but I think coaching brings something to my Christianity." "Coaching has given me a better life." Reflection Questions How has coaching changed the way you understand relationships and community? What awareness are you tempted to share before another person is ready for it? Where might you be carrying responsibility that properly belongs to someone else? How could you support someone without solving the problem for them? Mentioned in This Episode Brian will teach CAM 501: Foundations of Christian Coaching, beginning August 6, 2026. The eight-week course introduces the foundations, practices, and mindset of Christian coaching. Learn more at coachapproachministries.org.
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Why People Don't Take Advice
2w ago00:23:49Tap to summarizeEpisode Summary Brian Miller records a solo episode on a common leadership frustration: people ask for advice, receive good advice, agree that it makes sense—and then do not follow it. Brian explores why advice often fails to create change. The issue is not always that the advice is wrong. The deeper problem is that advice often skips the internal process people need in order to act. Coaching offers a better kind of conversation by helping people come to their own awareness, develop stronger action steps, and take ownership of the result. Big Ideas & Takeaways Awareness: Advice gives people someone else's insight Advice usually starts with what the advice-giver sees: "Here's what I think you should do." The advice may be wise, but the awareness belongs to the person giving it. People change more deeply when they come to awareness themselves. A coach approach creates space for someone to notice assumptions, patterns, fears, desires, and possibilities they had not seen clearly before. Brian illustrates this through his diabetes diagnosis. Being told he was diabetic did not instantly create full awareness. Later, a simple comment from his brother about giving up diet drinks helped Brian realize he had not yet tried everything. The awareness had to become his own before he could act on it. Key implication: if people do not own the awareness, they are unlikely to own the change. Action: Advice often produces weak action Even when people accept advice, the action can be vague, minimal, or borrowed. They may nod, agree, and even try something—but without a clear plan, the action rarely holds. A coaching conversation helps the person build a stronger action step. The action becomes specific, realistic, timely, and connected to the awareness they just discovered. Brian contrasts merely telling someone what to do with helping them think through the next step: What will you do? When will you do it? Who needs to be involved? What resources do you need? What could get in the way? Key implication: people are more likely to follow through on action they helped design. Ownership: Advice creates compliance; coaching creates responsibility Advice can produce compliance, especially when the advice-giver has authority. But compliance is not the same as ownership. Compliance says, "I am doing this because you told me to." Ownership says, "This is my responsibility, and I choose to act." Brian connects this to leadership, parenting, ministry, board meetings, and personal growth. The goal is not merely to get people to behave correctly. The goal is to help people become mature, responsible, and transformed. This is where accountability comes in. Accountability is strongest when it grows out of ownership. The person names the action, owns the responsibility, and identifies what will help them follow through. The Coaching Framework Awareness People need to see something for themselves. Action People need a concrete, supported next step. Ownership People need to take responsibility for what they choose to do. Memorable Quotes / Moments "People don't take advice." "No one ever washes a rental car." "Advice gives people my awareness." "People do what they tell themselves to do." "What's going to ensure that you take this action?" Timestamped Highlights ● 0:17–1:27 Intro: why people don't take advice ● 1:27–2:40 Story: nonprofit employee quits despite good advice ● 3:17–4:16 Conversations can be transformational ● 4:16–5:35 Advice gives people someone else's awareness ● 5:56–9:33 Diabetes diagnosis + brother's comment about diet drinks ● 11:53–14:33 Advice often produces weak action ● 16:53–18:38 Advice creates compliance instead of ownership ● 18:38–21:17 Accountability, counting carbs, and owning the next step ● 22:21–23:19 CAM 501 invitation and closing Links Mentioned ● Coach Approach Ministries: coachapproachministries.org ● CAM 501: Foundations of Christian Coaching ● Course start date mentioned: August 6, 2026 ● Schedule mentioned: Thursdays at 2:00 Eastern for eight weeks
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Presidents, Pressure, and the Myth That Things Used to Be Simple
3w ago00:25:12Tap to summarizePodcast Notes: Presidents, Pressure, and the Myth That Things Used to Be Simple Episode Overview In this solo episode, Brian Miller reflects on America's 250th anniversary and his recent effort to memorize the presidents of the United States in order. What began as a personal history project became a reminder that American life has never been as simple, stable, or unified as we sometimes imagine. Rather than entering today's political debates, Brian uses presidential history as a lens for leadership, pressure, maturity, and perspective. The episode explores how history can help us become less reactive, less nostalgic, and more grounded as we lead through complicated times. Key Ideas & Takeaways History Is More Turbulent Than We Remember From a distance, history often looks cleaner than it actually was. We remember presidents as names, portraits, monuments, and eras. But they were real people leading in real time, often with incomplete information, competing pressures, personal limitations, and public criticism. The past was not as simple as we sometimes imagine. American history has always included conflict, ambition, division, compromise, courage, failure, and uncertainty. Remembering that does not minimize the challenges of the present, but it can help us hold them with greater perspective. Leadership Is Always Contextual Presidential history reminds us that leadership is never abstract. Every leader acts inside a particular moment, with particular pressures and constraints. Some presidents were prepared for the moment they inherited. Some were not. Some shaped their era. Others were overwhelmed by it. But each one had to carry responsibility inside circumstances they did not fully control. That matters for how we think about leadership today. It is easy to judge leaders only by personality, decisions, or outcomes. But a more mature view also asks: What pressure were they under? What limitations were they facing? What assumptions shaped their choices? What did the moment require of them? This does not excuse poor leadership. But it helps us understand that leadership always happens inside pressure. Perspective Helps Us Become Less Reactive One gift of history is that it lowers our shock. Not because the present is easy. Not because today's problems do not matter. But because history reminds us that conflict, uncertainty, and pressure are not new. Without perspective, every crisis can feel unprecedented. Every disagreement can feel like proof that everything is falling apart. Every leader can become either savior or villain. Historical perspective helps us become steadier. It allows us to care without being consumed, to act without merely reacting, and to tell the truth about the present without being swallowed by anxiety. This is also where the episode connects to coaching. Coaching helps people make meaning under pressure. It creates space for awareness, discernment, responsibility, and faithful action. Possible Coaching Questions What pressure are you carrying right now? What are you assuming about this moment? What are you afraid will happen? What responsibility is actually yours? What are you carrying that is not yours to carry? What would a less reactive version of you do next? What does faithfulness look like in this moment? Closing Thought As America turns 250, we do not need to pretend the story has been simple. It has not. It has been pressured, conflicted, unfinished, and often complicated. But that does not have to lead us to cynicism. It can lead us to maturity. History helps us tell the truth about the present without being swallowed by it. It reminds us that leadership has always required courage, humility, wisdom, and restraint. And it invites us to ask a question that is historical, spiritual, and deeply practical: What does faithfulness look like now?
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The Journey to a Successful Coaching Practice with Glenn Smith
4w ago00:24:19Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Glenn Smith and I explore the journey of building a successful coaching practice and what it really takes to sustain meaningful work over time. Glenn shares wisdom from his own coaching journey, including the challenges, mindset shifts, and personal growth required to create a practice that aligns with both purpose and impact. We discuss: What defines a successful coaching practice The difference between building a business and living a calling Why authenticity matters in coaching Trust, relationships, and long-term growth The importance of self-awareness and personal development Common struggles coaches face early in their journey Finding alignment between values, purpose, and work Coaching as transformation rather than performance How meaningful conversations create lasting impact This conversation offers encouragement and practical wisdom for coaches, leaders, and anyone seeking to build work that is both sustainable and deeply meaningful. #Coaching #Leadership #PersonalGrowth #GlennSmith #CoachingPractice #Transformation #Purpose #Podcast
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From Codependency to Compassion with Paul Burns
Jun 1800:25:32Tap to summarizeIn this final conversation with Paul Burns, we explore the "Social" dimension of the GPS discipleship framework. Paul explains how a secure relationship with God and growing personal maturity free us to genuinely love and connect with others. We discuss: Why empathy is central to spiritual maturity The connection between security and healthy relationships Moving beyond codependency Loving others for their sake instead of our own needs The social implications of discipleship Sacrificial and unconditional love in the way of Jesus Emotional freedom and relational connection How discipleship transforms communities and relationships Paul unpacks how deepening discipleship ultimately leads to greater compassion, empathy, and the ability to love others more fully and authentically. #Empathy #Discipleship #Relationships #PaulBurns #SpiritualFormation #ChristianCoaching #Faith #Podcast
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The Journey from Insecurity to Freedom with Paul Burns
Jun 1100:24:11Tap to summarizeIn this second conversation with Paul Burns, we focus on the "Personal" dimension of his GPS framework for discipleship. Paul explores how spiritual growth involves becoming the person God created us to be rather than remaining trapped in the patterns and insecurities shaped by the world. We discuss: The movement from worldly identity to God-centered identity Emotional maturity and spiritual formation Insecurity, fear, and personal growth What it means to become a child of God The importance of self-differentiation How attachment to God creates internal freedom Why discipleship includes emotional and psychological growth Letting go of unhealthy patterns and mindsets This episode connects discipleship with emotional health and explores how God transforms not only our beliefs, but our identity and way of being in the world. #Identity #Discipleship #SpiritualGrowth #PaulBurns #EmotionalHealth #ChristianLeadership #Faith #Podcast
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Deepening Discipleship Growing in Relationship with God with Paul Burns
Jun 400:29:10Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Paul Burns and I begin a month-long conversation on deepening discipleship. Paul shares his understanding of discipleship as a growing relationship with God rather than merely acquiring religious knowledge or behavior modification. We discuss: Why discipleship is fundamentally relational The difference between knowing about God and knowing God Attachment theory and spiritual formation Moving beyond performance-based spirituality How security in God changes personal growth The role of trust in spiritual maturity Why transformation happens through relationship The connection between discipleship and emotional health Paul introduces the foundational concepts behind his GPS framework — God, Personal, and Social — and explains why a secure attachment to God changes everything else in life. #Discipleship #SpiritualFormation #PaulBurns #ChristianCoaching #Faith #Transformation #AttachmentTheory #Podcast
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Walking the Camino Pilgrimage, Purpose, and Transformation With Rey Spadoni
May 2800:27:05Tap to summarizePodcast Notes — CAP 519 with Rey Spadoni In this episode, Rey Spadoni and I explore the Camino de Santiago and the deeper human longing for pilgrimage, meaning, and transformation. Rey shares insights from his experiences walking the Camino and reflects on why ancient spiritual practices continue to resonate in modern life. We discuss: What draws people to the Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage as both an external and internal journey The role of uncertainty, solitude, and reflection in transformation How walking changes the pace of thinking and awareness The connection between coaching, spirituality, and personal growth Why meaningful conversations emerge differently on the road Ancient practices that still speak to modern challenges The difference between achievement and deeper fulfillment Community, vulnerability, and shared humanity along the Camino This conversation is reflective, practical, and deeply human — whether you've walked the Camino yourself or are simply searching for greater clarity and meaning in your own journey. #CaminoDeSantiago #Pilgrimage #PersonalGrowth #Coaching #Transformation #Spirituality #Meaning #Podcast #ReySpadoni #ConversationsThatMatter
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From Limiting Beliefs to New Identity: Coaching Through Story with Motoki Asai
May 2100:24:57Tap to summarize🎧 Podcast Notes: Narrative Coaching with Motoki Asai Connect with Motoki Asai Find Motoki on LinkedIn to learn more about his work with CAM Japan. Episode Overview In this final conversation, Brian Miller and Motoki Asai explore narrative coaching—a collaborative approach that helps clients examine and rewrite the stories they are living. Rather than starting with goals, narrative coaching begins with story, identity, and meaning, creating space for deeper transformation. Key Ideas & Takeaways 1. What Is Narrative Coaching? A third-generation coaching approach focused on story and identity. Instead of starting with goals, it begins by exploring the client's narrative. Coaching helps clients rewrite the story they're living. 2. Start with Story, Not Goals Traditional coaching often begins with "What do you want to work on?" Narrative coaching asks: What's happening? What story are you living? Goals often emerge later—and are deeper and more meaningful. 3. Step One: Situate the Client in the Story Who are they in their story? The hero? The victim? A side character? This reveals how they interpret their situation and identity. 4. Step Two: Search the Story Explore what the story is saying—and what it might be missing. Identify limiting beliefs and hidden assumptions. Look for alternative interpretations and possibilities. 5. Step Three: Shift the Narrative Collaboratively create a new, more empowering story. Ask: What story do you want to live going forward? This becomes a pathway to transformation. 6. Embody the New Story Clients don't just think differently—they practice the new identity. Role-play and "serious play" help them step into the new narrative. Transformation becomes experiential, not just intellectual. 7. Awareness Changes Everything Many clients discover they are the ones reinforcing limiting stories. Seeing the gap between perception and reality creates breakthrough. Example: A client realizes others believe in her—she just doesn't believe in herself. 8. Coaching as Rewriting Identity Coaching helps people recognize the strength and beauty already in their story. Often, clients don't realize how meaningful their story already is. The coach helps them see—and step into—that truth. Memorable Moments Comparing life to a movie: "What character are you playing right now?" The shift from "I'm not good enough" to "I need to receive what others already see in me." Practicing a new identity in real time through role-play. The reminder: You don't know how great your story is. About the Guest Motoki Asai is the founder and director of CAM Japan, bringing thoughtful, innovative approaches like narrative coaching to leaders and coaches across cultures.
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Beyond Goals: The Rise of Third Generation Coaching with Motoki Asai
May 1400:21:51Tap to summarize🎧 Podcast Notes: Third Generation Coaching with Motoki Asai Connect with Motoki Asai Find Motoki on LinkedIn to learn more about his work with CAM Japan. Episode Overview Brian Miller continues the conversation with Motoki Asai, diving into third generation coaching—a research-based, collaborative approach that shifts coaching from problem-solving to deeper exploration of identity, meaning, and relationship. In a rapidly changing world, this approach emphasizes who a person is becoming, not just what they are trying to achieve. Key Ideas & Takeaways 1. What Is Third Generation Coaching? A collaborative, co-creative coaching approach. Focuses on identity, values, and meaning-making—not just goals. Coach and client create the conversation together, rather than the coach leading it. 2. The Three "Generations" of Coaching First Generation: Goal-focused, problem-solving, linear (GROW model). Second Generation: Adds self-development and emotional intelligence. Third Generation: Centers on identity, narrative, and meaning in a complex world. 3. Coaching for a Complex (VUCA) World Today's world is volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous. There are fewer "right answers"—coaching must help people navigate identity and purpose. Anchoring in who you are becomes more important than solving any one problem. 4. Coaching as a Collaborative Space The coach is not just asking questions but co-creating insight. Meaning emerges between coach and client. Presence, energy, and relational dynamics matter in the conversation. 5. Beyond Coaching Sessions: A Way of Being Coaching shouldn't stay in formal sessions—it should shape everyday conversations. The goal is to empower people to have transformative dialogue in daily life. 6. Coaching the Person, Not the Problem Moves beyond fixing issues to understanding the individual. Emphasizes curiosity, care, and genuine interest in others. Reflects a deeper posture of listening and valuing people. 7. Presence and Overflow Effective coaching flows from a place of rest and alignment, not striving. Living from "overflow" allows coaches to bring calm, openness, and encouragement. Who you are matters as much as what you do in coaching. Memorable Moments Motoki connects with Reinhard Stelter (a leading voice in third generation coaching) via LinkedIn—and ends up hosting him in Japan. A shared experience (like attending sumo wrestling) becomes part of relational, meaningful dialogue. The emphasis shifts from "helping people achieve more" to "helping people become who they are." About the Guest Motoki Asai is the founder and director of CAM Japan, equipping leaders and coaches while exploring cutting-edge approaches like cognitive linguistics and third generation coaching.
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