The Embodiment Coaching Podcast

In this episode, I speak with breathwork researcher and educator Richard Blake about what the evidence actually says regarding breathwork, nervous system regulation, and how coaches can use breathing practices safely and effectively. Drawing on both scientific research and practical experience, Richard separates hype from evidence and explores which techniques are supported by the strongest research.
We discuss the different categories of breathwork, from calming, slower-paced breathing techniques to more activating practices, examining when each is appropriate and the physiological mechanisms behind their effects. Richard explains what current research tells us about stress, anxiety, emotional regulation, focus, and performance, while also highlighting the limitations of the evidence and the claims that often go beyond what the science can support.
The conversation explores how coaches can integrate simple breathing practices into their sessions without becoming breathwork specialists, the importance of understanding contraindications and individual differences, and why matching the right technique to the client's needs matters more than following trends. We also discuss the physiological sigh, coherent breathing, carbon dioxide tolerance, and the relationship between breathing patterns, the nervous system, and emotional states.
Along the way, we examine common misconceptions about breathwork, the growing research base in the field, critical thinking in wellbeing practices, and why an evidence-informed approach allows coaches to use breathwork with greater confidence, clarity, and care.
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Become a certified embodiment coach. Coach beyond mere words and support clients to transform their lives:
https://embodimentunlimited.com/cec/
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Check out our YouTube channel for more coaching tips and our Podcast channel for full episode videos

In this episode, I speak with writer, researcher, and philosopher Brendan Graham Dempsey about the modern meaning crisis, why so many people feel disconnected from purpose and belonging, and what this means for coaches, leaders, and anyone supporting human development. Drawing on philosophy, psychology, history, and his work on metamodernism, Brendan explores how we arrived at this cultural moment—and how we might move beyond it.
We discuss why questions of meaning increasingly show up in coaching conversations, even when clients initially present with goals around performance, relationships, or career. Brendan explains how the decline of shared cultural narratives has left many people searching for direction, and why coaches need to understand the wider social and philosophical context shaping their clients' lives.
The conversation explores metamodernism as an emerging response to the limitations of both modern certainty and postmodern cynicism, offering a way of holding complexity without collapsing into either naïve optimism or nihilism. We discuss how coaches can help clients navigate uncertainty, cultivate purpose without imposing answers, and support meaningful growth in an increasingly fragmented world.
Along the way, we explore identity, embodiment, belonging, political polarisation, social media, spirituality, and the balance between scepticism and hope. Ultimately, this episode is an invitation to think more deeply about what transformation really means—and why coaching may be as much about helping people orient themselves in a changing world as it is about achieving goals.
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Become a certified embodiment coach. Coach beyond mere words and support clients to transform their lives:
https://embodimentunlimited.com/cec/
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Check out our YouTube channel for more coaching tips and our Podcast channel for full episode videos

In this episode, I speak with Dr Helen Machen-Pearce about the role of creativity in coaching, and why it may be one of the most overlooked skills in helping people change. Drawing on our experience of training somatic coaches, we explore what creativity really means, why it isn't limited to artistic talent, and how coaches can cultivate it without losing structure or rigour.
Together, we examine the tension between following established methods and developing your own style, discussing whether creativity is something we're born with or something that emerges through disciplined practice. We explore how movement, play, curiosity, and experimentation can unlock fresh perspectives for both coach and client, while also considering the risks of becoming either too formulaic or creative for creativity's sake. Rather than seeing technique and spontaneity as opposites, we argue that the most effective coaching combines both.
The conversation also explores practical ways to develop creative confidence, the influence of culture and training on how we approach coaching, and why the best coaches adapt their methods to the individual rather than relying on a fixed formula. Whether you're looking to bring more originality into your coaching or simply avoid becoming stuck in familiar patterns, this episode offers practical insights into coaching that is both skilful and genuinely alive.
 
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Become a certified embodiment coach. Coach beyond mere words and support clients to transform their lives:
https://embodimentunlimited.com/cec/
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Check out our YouTube channel for more coaching tips and our Podcast channel for full episode videos

In this episode, I speak with Helen Machen-Pearce about one of the most important questions in coaching: what are the biggest mistakes coaches make, and how can they avoid them? Drawing on more than 15 years of training and assessing embodiment coaches, we explore the common patterns that hold coaches back, from relying too heavily on techniques to confusing confidence with competence.
Together, we examine the balance between structure and flexibility, discussing why great coaching isn't about following rigid formulas or believing that "anything goes." Instead, we explore the principles that underpin skilful practice, including the importance of presence, ethical awareness, trauma sensitivity, and learning to adapt to the person in front of you rather than forcing a preferred method.
The conversation also explores how coaches develop through practice, feedback, and supervision, why mistakes are an inevitable part of becoming more effective, and how humility and curiosity create better outcomes than perfectionism. Whether you're a new coach or an experienced practitioner, this episode offers practical insights into building sound judgement, avoiding common pitfalls, and developing coaching that is both embodied and genuinely impactful.
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Become a certified embodiment coach. Coach beyond mere words and support clients to transform their lives:
https://embodimentunlimited.com/cec/
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Check out our YouTube channel for more coaching tips and our Podcast channel for full episode videos

In this episode, I speak with relationship educator Harry Pitcher, creator of the She's Not Crazy series, about the biology of relationships and why understanding women's hormonal cycles can transform the way we connect with one another. Drawing on years of research into neuroscience, endocrinology, and attachment, Harry explains why many relationship struggles are less about personality or communication skills than they are about biology that is rarely understood or talked about.
We explore what this means for coaches, therapists, and anyone working with relationships, examining how hormones influence behaviour, emotional regulation, stress responses, and connection. Harry challenges the tendency to dismiss women's experiences as irrational, arguing instead that many patterns make perfect sense when viewed through the lens of physiology. Together, we discuss why a more embodied understanding of biology can replace blame with compassion and curiosity.
The conversation also explores the differences between male and female nervous systems, the impact of menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and menopause on relationships, and why men often struggle to interpret changes that are deeply rooted in hormonal shifts rather than conscious choice. Mark brings both humour and scepticism to the discussion, questioning where biology ends and culture begins, and how coaches can work with these ideas without reducing people to hormones alone.
Along the way, we discuss emotional regulation, attachment, communication, the importance of educating both men and women about hormonal health, and why understanding the body's rhythms may be one of the most practical—and overlooked—ways to create healthier relationships, more effective coaching, and deeper empathy.
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Become a certified embodiment coach. Coach beyond mere words and support clients to transform their lives:
https://embodimentunlimited.com/cec/
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Check out our YouTube channel for more coaching tips and our Podcast channel for full episode videos