The Coaching Inn

Join us at the book launch or sign up for more resources at www.lensnotlabel.com/launch   How can we have better conversations about neurodiversity at work without turning managers and coaches into experts? In this episode of The Coaching Inn, host Claire Pedrick is joined by Kim Witten and Nathan Whitbread to discuss their book, Lens Not Label.   The book grew from a frustration: there is plenty of information on neurodiversity, but not always practical guidance for conversations at work.   Our central argument is that inclusion starts less with labels and expertise and more with curiosity, self-awareness and listening to what each person says they need. This can help managers and coaches respond to the individual rather than assume what neurodivergence means for them.   We explore how our own stance shapes conversations: anxiety, masking or trying too hard to be the expert can affect whether others feel safe and understood.   Key takeaways:  ask people what would help believe what they tell you share knowledge when it serves the conversation and make room for different strengths, not only perceived difficulties.    The conversation also explores wisdom over collecting more information, and how inclusion means welcoming people without othering them across workplaces.   Contact: + Buy the book www.lensnotlabel.com/book  + Transforming Conversations course https://3dcoaching.com/transforming%20conversations   Kim Witten https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-witten/  Nathan Whitbread https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanaelwhitbread/  Contact Claire through Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairepedrick/ or by emailing [email protected]  or join our coaching community where you can talk with other listeners. Further Information: Subscribe or follow The Coaching Inn on your podcast platform or our YouTube Channel to hear or see new episodes as they drop. Find out more about 3D Coaching and get new ideas and offers in our weekly email. Keywords: neurodiversity at work, inclusive coaching, coaching conversations, neurodivergent employees, workplace inclusion, neurodiversity coaching, coaching skills, leadership coaching, inclusive leadership, better workplace conversations, neurodivergent talent, coaching for managers, coaching for leaders, disability inclusion, psychological safety at work, human-centered leadership, coaching mindset, neurodiversity awareness, Lens Not Label, The Coaching Inn   We love having a variety of guests join us! Please remember that inviting someone to participate does not mean we necessarily endorse their views or opinions. We believe in open conversation and sharing different perspectives.

Can coaching hold both strategy and soul? In this conversation, host Claire Pedrick welcomes Emilka Valentova, whose journey from management consulting to coaching began after burnout forced her to question the drive to achieve. Now she works with senior leaders and teams, bringing curiosity, courage and humanity into change.   Emilka describes moving from certainty toward coaching’s uncertainty: slowing down and trusting clients to discover what matters to them. She says the work is not about prescribing techniques, but being present enough to notice what is happening beneath the surface. That presence can make space for honesty and difficult truths leaders may hide, even when success looks impressive.    Emilka invites coaches to risk naming what they notice instead of staying safe or waiting for the perfect question. She argues that compassion belongs in business decisions, including major organizational transformations that affect people.   Her central message: strategy and humanity need not compete; leaders can pair clear thinking with emotional honesty. Claire and Emilka explore how people experience us, why safety matters and how a coach’s courage can open authentic conversation. The episode invites listeners to pause, listen closely and bring the whole person into the room, with intention.   Contact: Contact Emilka through Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilievalentova/  Contact Claire through Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairepedrick/ or by emailing [email protected]  or join our coaching community where you can talk with other listeners. Further Information: Subscribe or follow The Coaching Inn on your podcast platform or our YouTube Channel to hear or see new episodes as they drop. Find out more about 3D Coaching and get new ideas and offers in our weekly email. Keywords: leadership coaching, executive coaching, coaching presence, coaching for leaders, strategy and soul, human-centered leadership, coaching conversations, coaching skills, leadership development, coaching mindset, emotional intelligence at work, compassionate leadership, team coaching, coaching CEOs, business transformation, authentic coaching, coach development, Emilka Valentova, The Coaching Inn   We love having a variety of guests join us! Please remember that inviting someone to participate does not mean we necessarily endorse their views or opinions. We believe in open conversation and sharing different perspectives.

Where did coaches learn to leave our human at home? In this episode, Claire Pedrick talks with Gideon Culman, a coach of more than fourteen years. They first met at the ICF conference in Paris.   Mastery in coaching doesn't mean disappearing behind a reflective surface. It means bringing yourself fully to the conversation, but intentionally. Gideon describes a coach who removed herself so completely that her coaching turned flat and bordered on interrogation.    Be a true partner by showing up on purpose, not by accidentally putting yourself in the middle Get comfortable not knowing, and drop the jargon Sharing an observation with a client is not the same as pushing an opinion. Gideon's turning point came when he realised, "I don't care what I think."   Contact: Contact Gideon through coaching conferences  Contact Claire through Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairepedrick/ or by emailing [email protected]  or join our coaching community where you can talk with other listeners. Further Information: Subscribe or follow The Coaching Inn on your podcast platform or our YouTube Channel to hear or see new episodes as they drop. Find out more about 3D Coaching and get new ideas and offers in our weekly email. Keywords: coaching podcast, coaching skills, coach mastery, being human in coaching, coaching presence, authentic coaching, coaching conversations, professional coach development, ICF coaching, master certified coach, coaching techniques, coaching mindset, coaching industry, coach training, executive coaching, coaching tips, The Coaching Inn, Gideon Culman, Claire Pedrick, mentor coaching for coaches   We love having a variety of guests join us! Please remember that inviting someone to participate does not mean we necessarily endorse their views or opinions. We believe in open conversation and sharing different perspectives.  

Join Claire at the Lens Not Label Book Launch 16th November 2026 lensnotlabel.com/launch   What if coaching mastery is less about credentials or pushing for results, and more about being present? In this episode of The Coaching Inn, Claire Pedrick speaks with Christi Byerly, MCC, about why we don’t like the word mastery, andhow coaching, spiritual direction, and embodied awareness can help people notice what is already unfolding.   Christi shares how her first experience of coaching helped her move from burnout and self-doubt toward agency and life-changing choices. A pivotal moment came through three questions: What do you want? What’s holding you back? What will you do next? Hearing herself out loud helped her recognize that it wasn’t a voice she had to follow.   The conversation challenges the idea that change always comes from striving. Christi describes mastery as being grounded in the present, listening deeply, and trusting that awareness can support transformation without forcing it. She also reflects on the role of desire, the value of group coaching, and how difficult experiences can become part of new growth.   Key takeaways: Coaching can help people reconnect with their agency and choices Presence and listening can matter more than goal-setting Awareness may create room for change without pressure Simple, thoughtful questions can help someone take a meaningful next step   Free resource: The Awaken Way, a four-part mini-course offered through Awaken Coach Institute https://awakencoachinstitute.com   Contact: Contact Christi through Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/christibyerly/ or [email protected]  Contact Claire by emailing [email protected]  or join our coaching community where you can talk with other listeners. Further Information: Subscribe or follow The Coaching Inn on your podcast platform or our YouTube Channel to hear or see new episodes as they drop. Find out more about 3D Coaching and get new ideas and offers in our weekly email. Keywords: Coaching, professional coaching, coaching mastery, masterful coaching, coach training, coaching questions, coaching skills, coaching presence, embodied coaching, mindfulness in coaching, coaching and spiritual direction, group coaching, client agency, personal growth coaching, life coaching, coaching conversation, goal setting in coaching, inner critic, leadership coaching, coaching transformation   We love having a variety of guests join us! Please remember that inviting someone to participate does not mean we necessarily endorse their views or opinions. We believe in open conversation and sharing different perspectives.

BTW Coaching with Presence spaces available (November 2026 only) use code PRAC50 https://www.tickettailor.com/events/3dcoaching/2177146   Mentor Coaching space available - contact 3D office [email protected]   This week, Claire Pedrick talks with Dr. Chris Whitaker about how his lived experience of cerebral palsy shaped his coaching practice, and why inclusion needs to be built into coaching from the start. They explore practical ways to make coaching more accessible - from asking better questions to using silence, chat functions, and the social model of disability.   Inclusive coaching doesn’t ask people to adapt themselves to a fixed system. It notices and removes barriers, makes room for different ways of participating, and lets each person say what works for them.   Key takeaways Ask, “How can we make this more inclusive today?” rather than assuming what someone needs. Structure and silence can create space for reflection and participation. When a client’s needs change, adapt the format - for example, continuing through chat if speaking isn’t possible. Recognise that exclusion often comes from assumptions and systems, not from a person’s disability. Build disability inclusion, allyship, and intersectionality into coaching practice and professional standards. Consider how cost and other barriers affect who can access coaching.   Explore Chris’s Disability Essentials for Coaches https://www.purpleadvantage.com/disability-essentials-training/   Contact: Contact Chris through Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/drwhitaker/ or email [email protected] Contact Claire by emailing [email protected]  or join our coaching community where you can talk with other listeners. Further Information: Subscribe or follow The Coaching Inn on your podcast platform or our YouTube Channel to hear or see new episodes as they drop. Find out more about 3D Coaching and get new ideas and offers in our weekly email. Keywords: inclusive coaching, accessible coaching, disability inclusion, coaching for disabled clients, inclusive coaching practices, social model of disability, coaching accessibility, psychological safety in coaching, adaptive coaching, inclusive leadership, coaching and accessibility, disability and employment, coaching for everyone, accessible supervision, inclusive facilitation, client-centered coaching, coaching structure, coaching silence, barriers to coaching, disability-aware coaching  We love having a variety of guests join us! Please remember that inviting someone to participate does not mean we necessarily endorse their views or opinions. We believe in open conversation and sharing different perspectives.  

Claire Pedrick MCC speaks with Maša Ribnikar Kajtner PCC about rhythm coaching and how music, lyrics, pace, and sound can shape coaching conversations, team dynamics, and self-awareness.    Music is more than background. It can open access to emotion, memory, and meaning in ways that words alone may not. Used thoughtfully, it can help clients and teams reflect more deeply; used carelessly, it can impose meaning or stir up difficult feelings.   Maša shares how music first became part of her own reflection and later found a place in her coaching work. Claire and Maša explore how two people can hear the same song differently, why a coach’s voice and presence affect the room, and how changing the pace of a conversation can create space for reflection. They also discuss consent and ethical considerations, particularly when working with young people or emotionally charged material.   Key takeaways Music can offer a route into emotions, memories, and perspectives that may be hard to reach through conversation alone. Lyrics, melody, and rhythm can affect people differently; the coach should stay curious rather than assume what a song means. A coach’s own presence and response are part of the work. Consent, context, and care matter when introducing music into a session.   Try this: The next time a song comes on, notice what it brings up, and remember the first time you heard it.   Contact: Contact Maša through Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/ma%C5%A1a-ribnikar-kajtner/  Contact Claire by emailing [email protected]  or join our coaching community where you can talk with other listeners. Further Information: Subscribe or follow The Coaching Inn on your podcast platform or our YouTube Channel to hear or see new episodes as they drop. Find out more about 3D Coaching and get new ideas and offers in our weekly email. Keywords: music in coaching, coaching with music, music coaching techniques, rhythm coaching, emotional intelligence coaching, coaching tools for coaches, music and emotions, songs in coaching, coaching and leadership, client emotional awareness, music and memory, sound and wellbeing, coaching conversation techniques, music therapy insights, self-awareness coaching, emotional regulation strategies, team coaching activities, coaching ethics, music and personal development, reflective coaching exercises We love having a variety of guests join us! Please remember that inviting someone to participate does not mean we necessarily endorse their views or opinions. We believe in open conversation and sharing different perspectives.

Claire Pedrick MCC is joined once again by Jackie Haywood MCC for a conversation about mastery in coaching, sparked by Jackie’s experience with a horse. They explore how presence, proximity, and permission shape what happens in coaching relationships, and why great coaching is less about technique and more about what people experience in the moment.   In this episode: Jackie describes entering the paddock with no tools, no script, and no horse background, and how that stripped things back fast The first horse and Jackie shared a genuine moment of leaning in together, which became a lesson in consent, timing, and mutual response A second horse showed that you cannot repeat a moment by force, even if the first one felt powerful Claire and Jackie connect the horse field to coaching practice, especially how clients respond to the coach’s presence, not just their questions They argue for saying what you see, lightly, rather than overworking the meaning or trying to sound clever They reflect on the pressure coaches put on themselves to perform, have the right question, or make every intervention significant Jackie shares how recording and listening to your own coaching can accelerate mastery by revealing what actually happens Both highlight the value of messy, human presence and the importance of structure, curiosity, and co-creating the conversation   Coaching with Presence online https://www.3dcoaching.com/coaching-with-presence/   More podcasts in the Mastery Series https://bit.ly/4hFYyzI Contact: Contact Jackie through Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/haywoodjackie/  Contact Claire by emailing [email protected]  or join our coaching community where you can talk with other listeners.   Further Information: Subscribe or follow The Coaching Inn on your podcast platform or our YouTube Channel to hear or see new episodes as they drop. Find out more about 3D Coaching and get new ideas and offers in our weekly email.   Keywords: coaching presence, coaching skills, coaching conversations, horse-assisted coaching, equine-assisted learning, trust in coaching, consent and boundaries, active listening, coaching questions, powerful questions, coaching techniques, self-awareness for coaches, relational coaching, client connection, coaching supervision, leadership coaching, observation skills, building rapport, coach development, authentic leadership    We love having a variety of guests join us! Please remember that inviting someone to participate does not mean we necessarily endorse their views or opinions. We believe in open conversation and sharing different perspectives.

Claire Pedrick talks with executive coach Charles Whitaker about leadership pressure, burnout, and how men can reconnect with their own voice and values. Charles reflects on how his coaching work evolved from supporting experienced male leaders to writing for men over 50 and young men, and why changing direction can be a sign of clarity rather than inconsistency.   A central argument in the conversation is that burnout isn’t only about external demands. It’s also shaped by our internal rhythms and capacity for recovery. Charles shares how ideas about ultradian rhythms and the brain’s predictive nature informed his model of leadership pressure, which can apply to parents, medics, educators, and entrepreneurs—not just business leaders.   They also explore why men may struggle to hear their own voice beneath expectations from family, school, work, and culture. Charles argues that grounded vulnerability is not weakness: it’s the ability to stay present, connected to your values, and open without relying on armour.   Key takeaways: Repositioning can reflect growth and a clearer understanding of your work Burnout calls for attention to both external pressure and internal rhythms Personal development can mean recovering your own voice, not adding another script Grounded vulnerability and presence can be forms of strength Legacy often begins with responding to a need you feel compelled to address Charles books are here https://charleswhitaker.co.uk/books-by-charles-whitaker-find-clarity/ Contact: Contact Charles through Linked In linkedin.com/in/charleswhitakerperformancecoach  Contact Claire by emailing [email protected]  or join our coaching community where you can talk with other listeners. Further Information: Subscribe or follow The Coaching Inn on your podcast platform or our YouTube Channel to hear or see new episodes as they drop. Find out more about 3D Coaching and get new ideas and offers in our weekly email. Keywords: burnout prevention, men’s mental health, men over 50, young men, male identity, leadership burnout, ultradian rhythm, emotional resilience, grounded vulnerability, personal growth, men’s coaching, leadership pressure, self-discovery, finding your voice, healthy masculinity, life transitions, coaching, leadership development, parenting and burnout, legacy and purpose.   We love having a variety of guests join us! Please remember that inviting someone to participate does not mean we necessarily endorse their views or opinions. We believe in open conversation and sharing different perspectives.

What does it take to end one chapter of work without losing what made it meaningful? In this episode of The Coaching Inn, Claire Pedrick talks with Kirsty Elderton about closing her coaching business intentionally and creating a new direction for her work. Kirsty reflects on a career shaped by coaching, consulting, health challenges, and changing ideas about identity and time. At the heart of the conversation is the gap between knowing change is needed and taking action - a gap where doubt, competing opportunities, and other people’s opinions can make it difficult to hold your nerve.    Endings don’t have to mean erasing the past. Rituals and deliberate transition markers can help make change real, while allowing people to carry forward relationships, learning, and purpose. Claire and Kirsty also explore what it means to hold work lightly, create space to think, and build a business that doesn’t treat hustle as proof of value.   Key takeaways Make important transitions intentional rather than letting them simply fizzle out Notice what can pull you away from a decision you already know is right Use rituals to give change meaning and help it land Carry forward what matters while letting old structures evolve Build work around sustainable practices, not constant busyness   Contact: Contact Kirsty through Linked In linkedin.com/in/kirstyelderton or https://www.thepeopleandculture.co/ Contact Claire by emailing [email protected]  or join our coaching community where you can talk with other listeners. Further Information: Subscribe or follow The Coaching Inn on your podcast platform or our YouTube Channel to hear or see new episodes as they drop. Find out more about 3D Coaching and get new ideas and offers in our weekly email. Keywords: coaching, coaching business, career change, career transition, business transformation, intentional endings, managing change, making difficult decisions, holding your nerve, knowing and doing, coaching insights, leadership skills, coaching competencies, sustainable business, hustle culture, outcome-based pricing, work-life balance, personal growth, identity and work, creating space to think    We love having a variety of guests join us! Please remember that inviting someone to participate does not mean we necessarily endorse their views or opinions. We believe in open conversation and sharing different perspectives.

Most leaders don’t fail because they lack skill. They fail because they keep playing not to lose. What about coaches? Do we accidentally play to lose?   In this episode of The Coaching Inn, Claire Pedrick talks with Zana Goic-Petričević, author of Leading on the Edge: The Bold Art of Being More Irrational and Less Mediocre.    Zana shares how losing her corporate job became a turning point, prompting her to rethink safety, identity, ambition, and what it means to lead boldly. Together, they explore why excessive rationality can become fear in disguise, how discomfort can provide valuable data, and why real safety comes from within rather than from a job title, salary, or organisation.   You’ll also discover: How to distinguish fear from intuition and meaningful risk Why coaches must confront their own edges The difference between compassion and pity How self-compassion supports honest, effective coaching Why boldness is about contribution—not aggression How to stop settling for mediocrity and “good enough”   If you coach leaders, lead a team, or feel ready for greater courage and aliveness, this conversation will challenge you to ask: What am I avoiding, and what is worth the risk?   Here are Zana’s books: Bold Reinvented: Next level leading with Courage, Consciousness and Conviction https://link.amazon/B0fB67C1K  Leading on the Edge: The bold art of being more irrational and less mediocre https://link.amazon/B05SgWb3l    Contact: Contact Zana through Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/zanagoicpetricevic/ Contact Claire by emailing [email protected]  or join our coaching community where you can talk with other listeners. Further Information: Subscribe or follow The Coaching Inn on your podcast platform or our YouTube Channel to hear or see new episodes as they drop. Find out more about 3D Coaching and get new ideas and offers in our weekly email. Keywords: coaching, coach development, bold coaching, leadership coaching, personal growth, professional growth, self-compassion, emotional resilience, inner safety, overcoming fear, discomfort and growth, courageous leadership, authentic leadership, coaching mindset, coaching skills, meaningful work, career transformation, overcoming mediocrity, taking risks, personal development    We love having a variety of guests join us! Please remember that inviting someone to participate does not mean we necessarily endorse their views or opinions. We believe in open conversation and sharing different perspectives.