What does it really mean for a client to be “ready” for coaching? And how do we, as coaches, avoid stealing the learning by inserting our own insights?

In this episode of the Coaching Book Club Podcast, Christy Stuber and Ken McKeller dive into Cultivating Coachability by Clare Norman—an essential read for every coach’s bookshelf. Together, they explore the coach’s responsibility to prepare clients for coaching, redefine the purpose of chemistry sessions as compatibility meetings, and hold space for independent thinking without hijacking the client’s process.

You’ll walk away with practical strategies to strengthen your coaching agreements, support client readiness, and deepen your understanding of the coach-thinker partnership. Whether you’ve read the book or this is your first time hearing about it, you’ll leave with fresh insights to apply in your own coaching practice.

Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and connect with us on LinkedIn to share what you’re taking away from today’s conversation.

What does it take to create a truly safe coaching space — one rooted in trust, context, and cultural awareness?

In this episode of The Coaching Book Club, hosts Christy Stuber and Ken McKellar unpack Legacy by Dr. Uché Blackstock — a deeply personal and powerful book about racism in healthcare, family lineage, and the urgent need to reimagine trust and equity in professional spaces.

Together, Christy and Ken explore how this memoir challenges coaches to reflect on their own identities, biases, and responsibilities when working with diverse clients — and why these conversations are essential to effective, ethical coaching.

Tune in to explore three key insights from the book, including:

✅ Why coaching isn’t just about skill — it’s also about the context we create for those skills to unfold
✅ The power of reflective practice to reveal personal bias, build trust, and strengthen client connection
✅ How collective healing, not just individual growth, shows up in coaching — and what that means for your sessions

Whether you’re cultivating safer spaces in one-on-one coaching or navigating trust in team and group settings, this episode will expand your lens and invite you into the ongoing work of coach development.

🎧 Listen now for a heartfelt and provocative conversation that proves: the way we coach is part of the legacy we leave.

What if the best coaches are the ones still learning? 🤔

In this episode of The Coaching Book Club, hosts Christy Stuber and Ken McKellar explore Positive Provocation by Robert Biswas-Diener — a refreshingly bold read that dares coaches to challenge convention, embrace discomfort, and grow through curiosity. If you’re ready to think differently about coaching, this one’s for you.

Join us as we dive into key provocations from the book, including:

✅ Why great coaches never stop evolving — and what that means for your ongoing development
✅ The “coach’s agenda” — how bringing your values into the coaching space can actually empower clients
✅ What happens when we interrupt or use less empathy — and why these ideas might not be as taboo as you think

From ethics and supervision to reflective practice and client relationships, this conversation will stretch your thinking and offer new ways to refine your coaching craft.

Whether you’re a seasoned MCC or new to the profession, this episode delivers powerful insights, real-world reflections, and a playful-yet-deep discussion that proves learning never ends.

🎧 Tune in now to explore how Positive Provocation can push you forward as a coach — in the best way possible.

Did you know your brain’s primary job isn’t thinking? 🤯

In this episode of The Coaching Book Club, hosts Christy Stuber and Ken McKellar explore Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain by Lisa Feldman Barrett — a thought-provoking book that challenges our assumptions about how the brain works. If you’re a coach looking to understand brain science and its impact on coaching, this episode is for you.

Join us as we dive into three powerful insights from the book:
✅ How your brain predicts (almost) everything you do — and why that matters for coaching conversations
✅ The “energy budget” and practical strategies to manage your mental and emotional resources as a coach
✅ Brain-to-brain regulation — why staying calm and present helps create a safe environment for your clients

Whether you’re a coach seeking personal growth, a manager wanting to build leadership skills, or someone looking to deepen your understanding of neuroscience, this episode offers practical coaching techniques and mindset shifts you can start using right away.

Learn how to build coaching confidence through brain science and apply these insights to overcome imposter syndrome, improve coaching skills, and cultivate stronger client connections. This episode is packed with professional development tips for coaches, practical coaching strategies, and actionable takeaways from one of the best coaching books of the year.

Tune in now to discover how understanding the brain can transform your coaching practice!