In this episode of Coaching Magic, Jill Young sits down with Trevor Timbeck — coach, author, and self-described lover of language — for a conversation that lives at the intersection of presence, language, and inner work. Together they explore how the words we choose don't just describe our world, they coordinate our behavior and shape our nervous systems in real time.

Trevor introduces the idea of the "widest possible dance floor" — a way of coaching (and living) that lets go of truth, objectivity, and right-vs-wrong in favor of what actually works. He and Jill unpack why appeals to "the truth" so often become the first step toward demanding obedience — and how that same instinct shows up in coaching sessions, in leadership, and even at the family dinner table.

The conversation moves through some of Coaching Magic's core ideas — creating space, sending invitations, and objectives over agenda — and pairs them with Trevor's own language: domains instead of levels, participating instead of creating, and the "agenda-less agenda," where responsibility replaces rigidity. Along the way, Trevor reframes confidence as practice, and fear as something to accept rather than override, describing presence itself as "the most powerful system."

It's a conversation full of what Trevor calls "quake moments" — the phrases that land with enough force to reorganize how you think. Coaches, grab your notebook: this one rewards slow listening.

Meet Trevor!

Trevor Timbeck lives, coaches, and plays at the intersection of love, language, and leadership. He's the author of The Power of Systems, and he loves to walk slowly and listen to the universe.

Trevor's coaching philosophy centers on presence over performance and coordination over control. He prefers language like domains over levels (to avoid hierarchy, which he believes tends to devolve into violence) and talks about participating in rather than creating the people around him. He's known for distinguishing between truth and what's simply coherent or workable — and for treating fear not as something to push through, but something to accept.

Want to find him? He's easy to spot — by his own account, he's the only Trevor Timbeck in the world.

Show Links!

• 🔗 Trevor's website
• 📖 Trevor's books
• 💼 Trevor on LinkedIn
• ✨ Learn more about Coaching Magic

P.S. Remember, you are magic!