823 episodes
796. What Birth Teaches Us About Coaching, Surrender, and Connection - With Mark Harris
30/10/2026 | 52 mins.In this episode, I speak with Mark Harris, one of the UK's leading male midwives and author of Men, Love, and Birth, about what birth can teach us about embodiment, presence, and the art of supporting another human being. Drawing on more than three decades of experience attending births, Mark challenges some common assumptions about what it means to help. He suggests that the role of a birth partner is not to fix, direct, or even empower the woman, but to be fully present and create the conditions in which her own innate capacity can emerge. It's a fascinating perspective that has strong parallels with good coaching.
We explore the importance of the birth environment, the relationship between safety and the nervous system, and why privacy, consent, and a woman's sense of sovereignty are so central to the experience. Mark shares how partners can recognise and manage their own stress responses, stay attuned to what a woman needs, and understand when touch, words, or practical support might be welcome – and when the best thing to do is nothing at all. We also discuss the limitations of birth plans, the power of language and expectation, the role of midwives and doulas, and how our assumptions about what is happening can shape the experience itself.
For coaches, this conversation offers a powerful reminder that transformation doesn't always come from doing more. Sometimes the most valuable thing we can offer is a safe space, careful attention, and trust in the intelligence of the person in front of us. We also consider fatherhood as a potential rite of passage for men, the importance of responsibility and intimacy, and how becoming a parent can shift our sense of self and our place in the world. A rich and often funny conversation about birth, embodiment, relationships, and the wisdom of knowing when to step back.
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Check out our YouTube channel for more coaching tips and our Podcast channel for full episode videos795. Coaching Through Infertility: Grief, Hope, and Acceptance - With Anke Egger
26/10/2026 | 47 mins.In this episode, I speak with Anke Egger, an experienced coach and facilitator who specialises in fertility and infertility, about a deeply personal topic that touches many people but is often difficult to talk about. We explore the emotional complexity of wanting children, struggling to conceive, experiencing miscarriage, or facing the possibility of a life without children. We also look at the social expectations surrounding parenthood, the conflicting messages people receive about career and family, and how these pressures can make an already difficult experience even harder. For coaches, this conversation highlights why fertility deserves far more attention in coaching education and practice.
Together, we discuss the impact of infertility on mental health, relationships, sexuality, identity, and the experience of being in one's body. Anke shares insights from her own journey and her work with clients, including the challenges of fertility treatment, the painful uncertainty of waiting for results, and the struggle to accept what cannot be controlled. We explore how couples can communicate more honestly about their hopes and fears, why difficult conversations are often postponed, and how grief, shame, anger, and sadness can affect intimacy. We also consider the different ways men and women may experience fertility struggles, while recognising that everyone's experience is unique.
Finally, we look at how coaches can offer meaningful support without pretending to have all the answers. We discuss the importance of finding a practitioner who understands the terrain, making room for difficult emotions rather than rushing towards solutions, and using practices such as meditation and physical activity to rebuild a sense of connection and confidence in the body. Whether you work with individuals or couples, this episode is an invitation to approach fertility with greater sensitivity, challenge your assumptions, and help clients navigate one of life's most significant and emotionally charged experiences.
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Learn more about the new certification in Beyond Liberal Coaching :
https://embodimentunlimited.com
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Check out our YouTube channel for more coaching tips and our Podcast channel for full episode videos794. From Discipline to Embodiment: Lessons from Sport and Men's Work - With Craig White
20/10/2026 | 46 mins.In this episode, I speak with Craig White, leadership coach, men's work facilitator, and author of Tell the Fucking Truth, about the transformative power of group work and why men can benefit so much from being seen by other men. Drawing on his experience in elite sport, embodiment, meditation, and men's retreats, Craig shares what happens when people bring their shame, grief, anger, and vulnerability into a group where they can be witnessed without being rejected. We explore why group coaching can offer something that one-to-one work often cannot, from the permission to be fully human to the experience of belonging and being accepted by others.
We also discuss masculinity, fatherhood, and the importance of male role models and what Craig calls male blessing. Having spent years working with professional rugby players and elite athletes, he reflects on the relationship between discipline, performance, and psychological wellbeing. We explore what the personal development world can learn from sport's commitment to practice, structure, and results, as well as the risks of becoming so focused on achievement that we lose touch with our bodies and emotions. Craig also shares his own journey from high-performance sport into yoga, meditation, shadow work, and a more holistic approach to coaching.
Finally, we consider what makes group facilitation effective, how a group develops its own culture and dynamics, and why safety is so important for meaningful transformation. We discuss the challenges men face when their sporting careers or familiar identities come to an end, the role of community in navigating life transitions, and why coaching needs to come from a genuine sense of purpose rather than simply being the next career move. This is a rich conversation for coaches, therapists, and facilitators interested in men's development, group work, masculinity, and the conditions that allow people to change.
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Learn more about the new certification in Beyond Liberal Coaching :
https://embodimentunlimited.com
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Check out our YouTube channel for more coaching tips and our Podcast channel for full episode videos793. What Conservative Thinking Can Teach Coaches About Human Behaviour- With Mark Walsh & Dr Helen Machen-Pearce
13/10/2026 | 53 mins.In this episode, I speak with Dr Helen Machen-Pearce about an often-overlooked perspective in coaching: what conservative philosophy can teach us about human behaviour, personal responsibility, and change. Drawing on philosophy, psychology, spirituality, and embodied practice, we explore why coaching has largely embraced liberal assumptions about the individual, and what might be missing when we focus primarily on personal freedom, self-expression, and psychological explanations.
Together, we examine the differences between liberal and conservative approaches to human nature, discussing the role of virtue, discipline, tradition, boundaries, and personal choice in how people live and change. Mark challenges some of the dominant assumptions in modern coaching and psychology, asking whether an overemphasis on social conditioning and past experiences can leave too little room for agency, responsibility, and the possibility of choosing differently. The conversation also explores how our own political and philosophical beliefs shape the way we understand clients, and the risks of reducing people to ideological categories.
The discussion ultimately asks how coaches can develop a more complete understanding of human beings without becoming trapped in a single worldview. We explore how drawing on different philosophical and spiritual traditions can deepen empathy, broaden our perspective, and help us work more effectively with people whose values differ from our own. Whether you identify as conservative, liberal, or politically homeless, this episode offers a challenging invitation to question your assumptions and expand the perspectives you bring to your coaching.
Learn more about the Certification of Compassionate Conservative Coaching:
https://embodimentunlimited.com/compassionate-conservative-coaching/- In this episode, I speak with Peter Hawkins, one of the pioneers of systemic and team coaching, about why coaching needs to evolve beyond a focus on the individual. Drawing on decades of experience in leadership development and organisational change, Peter argues that coaches create far greater impact when they work with the wider systems, relationships, and stakeholders that shape every client's world.
Together, we explore what it means to think systemically, discussing why lasting change rarely happens in isolation and how coaches can shift from helping individuals achieve personal goals to supporting healthier teams, organisations, and communities. Peter explains how expanding our attention beyond the coach–client relationship opens up new possibilities for leadership, collaboration, and meaningful change, while Mark challenges how these ideas translate into everyday coaching practice.
The conversation also explores the future of coaching in an increasingly complex world, the role of AI and emerging technologies, and why deeply human qualities such as wisdom, presence, and relational intelligence are becoming more—not less—important. Whether you're an executive coach, leadership coach, or work with individuals in any setting, this episode offers a compelling vision of coaching that moves beyond performance to create value for the wider systems we all belong to.
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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
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About The Embodiment Coaching Podcast
A weekly podcast for coaches, embodiment teachers and anyone who sees the body as more than a hunk of meat.
Embodiment Unlimited host Mark Walsh, interviews leaders and innovators from around the world. We cover coaching, mindfulness, trauma therapy, martial arts, meditation, somatics, yoga, and movement practices generally. The flavour is light-hearted, conversational and practical.
The podcast has been going for seven years and had over three million downloads.
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