The Art Of Coaching

Brett Bartholomew

Hosted by best-selling author, speaker and performance coach Brett Bartholomew, the Art of Coaching Podcast is a weekly show aimed at getting to the core of what it takes to change attitudes & behaviors in the weight-room, boardroom and everywhere in between.

  1. Sep 28

    E444 | How to Keep Going When Everything Feels Overwhelming

    Sometimes even the simple things in life feel like too much. Your to-do list keeps growing. People need things from you. You’re thinking about what needs to happen today, what you didn’t get done yesterday, and what’s waiting for you tomorrow. And sometimes it goes beyond being busy. You’re exhausted. You’re struggling. Even getting out of bed, answering the email, making the phone call, or doing something you normally wouldn’t think twice about can feel like a lot. When you’re in that state, being told to “prioritize better” isn’t always helpful. Sometimes you need to stop looking at everything in front of you and ask a much smaller question: What’s the smallest, yet meaningful next step I can take? That might mean handling something important at work. It might mean making the call you’ve been avoiding. Or it might simply mean putting your feet on the floor, taking a shower, eating something, or getting outside. In this episode, I talk about why focusing on everything at once makes it easier to get stuck, how to narrow your focus when life feels overwhelming, and why small actions matter more than we give them credit for. You don’t have to solve everything today. Figure out the next meaningful thing you can do. Do that. Then let it stack. Want help working through a challenge in your life, career, or business? Learn more about our 1-on-1 mentoring at artofcoaching.com/mentoring. My new book, The Anti-Hero Advantage, is for anyone tired of one-size-fits-all advice about leadership, communication, and influence. Learn more and order your copy at theantiheroadvantage.com. For more tools, events, and resources from Art of Coaching, visit artofcoaching.com.   Follow Us: Website: ArtofCoaching.com Instagram: @coach_brettb X: @coach_brettb

  2. Sep 21

    E443 | Most Shared E278 Victor Hall | Quiet Influence: How to Impact Others as an Introvert

    “Leadership isn’t for me.  I’m naturally introverted, quiet, and shy - no one would ever listen to me.” Although this isn’t a direct quote, it’s a common excuse we hear from coaches, leaders, and business owners alike as to why they can’t (or won’t) lead or have the impact they want on those around them.  And to put it bluntly, this topic doesn’t get the amount of discussion it deserves. That’s why in today’s episode Victor Hall, VP of Operations at EXOS, provides insight on his own experience pursuing impactful leadership as an introvert.  Together, we explore how to influence others, navigate different conversational styles and break through the barriers of shyness.  Victor Hall has spent over 20 years training athletes, leading performance teams, and educating fellow coaches and trainers. During that time, he has worked within collegiate, private facilities, and military environments. Victor joined EXOS in 2010 as a Performance Manager of a Human Performance Program for the Department of Defense, and currently serves as the Vice President of Operations at EXOS. We cover a few key components that make up this pursuit of effective leadership, including: The secrets of making an impact as an introvert How self awareness contributes to leadership and creating a lasting impact Where his natural tendencies haven’t served him in the past What he does to embrace authenticity instead of trying to “fix” himself   Related Resources:  E202: Why Facts & Logic Don’t Change Our Minds E227: Stu McMillan: No B.S. Leadership Lessons from an Olympic Coach E240: The 4 Styles of Communication   How to Connect with Coach Hall: vhall@teamexos.com   The Antihero Advantage: https://theantiheroadvantage.com/ Preorder Bulk Copies For your Team or Friends through Porchlight: https://www.porchlightbooks.com/products/antihero-advantage-brett-bartholomew-9780593712825   Follow Us: Website: ArtofCoaching.com Instagram: @coach_brettb X: @coach_brettb

  3. Sep 14

    E442 | How to Deal with Flaky Friends, Job Loss and Identity Shifts

    We all go through different seasons in life—and there will likely be at least four periods when we lose friends, gain new ones, or realize that certain relationships no longer work the way they once did. These changes rarely happen in isolation. They often arrive alongside job loss, career changes, family transitions, and other identity shifts that can make it feel like everything is happening at once. In this episode, Brett goes into the mailbag to answer questions from listeners dealing with flaky friends, one-sided relationships, career uncertainty, and major changes in how they see themselves. He covers how to have hard conversations with friends who may not be doing their part, how to take an honest look at whether you’re doing yours, and how to navigate these changes without constantly wondering, “Is it me?” “Am I screwed?” or “What the hell am I going to do now?” If nothing else, you’ll walk away with practical ways to handle the messy moments when your relationships, career, and sense of identity all seem to be shifting at once. For more practical guidance on navigating the messy realities of leadership and life, preorder Brett’s latest book, The Antihero Advantage.   The Antihero Advantage: https://theantiheroadvantage.com/ Preorder Bulk Copies For your Team or Friends through Porchlight: https://www.porchlightbooks.com/products/antihero-advantage-brett-bartholomew-9780593712825   Follow Us: Website: ArtofCoaching.com Instagram: @coach_brettb X: @coach_brettb

  4. Aug 31

    E440 | 7 Things I've (Re)Learned This Year That Can Help You Immediately

    There’s no shortage of information out there. If anything, we’re drowning in it. Wisdom is different. Wisdom is perspective you can actually use. It’s information that’s been distilled, reflected upon, screwed up a few times, revisited, and battle-tested in the real world. With about four months left in the year, I wanted to take stock of what I’ve learned, re-learned, and been reminded of throughout 2026. Some came from my own personal and professional experiences. Others came from conversations with clients and people we work with at Art of Coaching. None are meant to be earth-shattering. That’s kind of the point. In this episode, I get into: •⁠ ⁠Why you need to define what success actually means to YOU—and periodically revisit that definition. •⁠ ⁠Why knowing who you aren’t can sometimes be just as useful as knowing who you are. •⁠ ⁠What conflict tells you about the ceiling of a personal or professional relationship. •⁠ ⁠Why you shouldn’t expect the truth from someone who is lying to themselves. •⁠ ⁠The difference between what organizations say they value and what people are actually incentivized to protect. •⁠ ⁠Why old-fashioned things like handwritten notes, thoughtful messages, common courtesy, and simply giving a shit still matter. •⁠ ⁠Something I’ve been reminded of throughout the process of releasing my new book: people are often far more willing to help than we convince ourselves they are. There’s plenty of noise competing for your attention right now. My hope is that there are at least one or two things in here that make you stop, think, or look at something in your own life a little differently.   WHAT YOU’LL LEARN •⁠ ⁠How to separate your definition of success from everybody else’s. •⁠ ⁠Why self-awareness without conviction doesn’t get you very far. •⁠ ⁠What conflict, self-deception, and organizational politics can teach you about dealing with people. •⁠ ⁠Why some of the simplest habits still have an outsized impact on relationships and reputation.   PRE-ORDER HERE NOW! https://theantiheroadvantage.com/   Follow Us: Website: ArtofCoaching.com Instagram: @coach_brettb X: @coach_brettb

  5. Aug 24

    E439 | You Don't Have to Be Liked | Part 2

    In this follow-up episode, Brett doubles down on why being liked isn’t a prerequisite for effective leadership, while also exploring where the limits of that advice begin to show. Using a real-world case study of a high-performing professional who believes they were fired due to not being liked, and another client who thinks they were passed over for a promotion because they weren’t perceived as likable, Brett examines the more complex relationship between likability, competence, power, and leverage. He breaks down why doing great work isn’t always enough to protect you, how easily people can misread the political dynamics operating around them, and why your ability to withstand interpersonal friction often depends on how difficult you are to replace. The episode also explores research on why people sometimes prefer a likable colleague over a more competent one, when that preference flips, and why understanding who holds power—and what leverage you actually have—is essential to navigating any organization. The goal isn’t to become more agreeable or start chasing approval. It’s to understand the context you’re operating in well enough to know whose opinion matters, what makes you valuable, where your leverage comes from, and when being disliked can actually cost you. For more like this, pre-order Brett’s new book, The Antihero Advantage, now to learn more practical strategies for navigating power dynamics, communicating with different personalities, and making a bigger impact without relying on the tired leadership formulas that rarely survive contact with the real world.   PRE-ORDER HERE NOW! https://theantiheroadvantage.com/   For reference, see these previous episodes mentioned in this episode: •⁠ ⁠ Episode 214 of The Art of Coaching Podcast, “Why Great Leaders Shouldn’t Worry About Being Liked”: https://artofcoaching.com/e214/ •⁠ ⁠ Episode 438, “You Don’t Have to Be Liked: The Power of Not Being for Everyone” with Nathalia Melo: https://artofcoaching.com/e438/   WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE: •⁠  ⁠How to audit how much leverage you actually have •⁠  ⁠Why being great at your job may not be enough •⁠ ⁠ How to tell if your relationships are helping or hurting your career •⁠ ⁠ Ways to spot power dynamics you may be missing   Follow Us: Website: ArtofCoaching.com Instagram: @coach_brettb X: @coach_brettb

  6. Aug 17

    E438 | Nathalia Melo | You Don't Have to Be Liked: The Power of Not Being for Everyone

    My guest this episode is Nathalia Melo, a globally recognized fitness and performance coach, former Olympia champion, and Harvard Medical School Certified Wellness Coach. Nathalia is a globally recognized fitness and performance coach with over 17 years of experience helping high-performing women build bodies that support the level at which they operate in their careers and lives. A former Olympia champion and Harvard Medical School Certified Wellness Coach, Nathalia has spoken in over 30 countries, presented for Fortune 500 companies and AM100 law firms, and been featured in magazines worldwide. Today, she leads a multidisciplinary coaching practice that integrates training, nutrition, behavioral psychology, and lifestyle strategy to help busy professionals improve their physical capacity, energy, and long-term health. Through her Powerhouse coaching programs, Nathalia and her team, which includes Registered Dietitians and Licensed Counselors, have helped more than 5,000 women navigate the challenges of maintaining their health while leading demanding careers and families. Her work focuses on a population often overlooked in traditional wellness conversations: high-achieving women who understand health intellectually but struggle to apply it consistently within the realities of leadership, long hours, and high responsibility. Her mission is to help women operate at the highest level without sacrificing the health and physical capacity that makes sustained success possible. In this episode, Brett and Nathalia talk about how critical it is to be deliberate in all the things you do, but also to quit worrying about being liked. They talk about how, especially in today's performative culture where people are so worried about seeking validation, it will often derail you personally and professionally.   The conversation spans: -Professional development -Nathalia's backstory -Navigating conflict with your partner -Understanding how to better interact with your children -Figuring out and owning your real voice without constantly backtracking or seeking approval   You'll get things you can use immediately and then build off of that.   Find Nathalia: Website: nathaliamelofit.com Podcast: Unfiltered Fit Life (Apple, Spotify) Instagram: @nathaliamelofit YouTube: @natmelofit   Follow Us: Website: ArtofCoaching.com Instagram: @coach_brettb X: @coach_brettb

4.9
out of 5
614 Ratings

About

Hosted by best-selling author, speaker and performance coach Brett Bartholomew, the Art of Coaching Podcast is a weekly show aimed at getting to the core of what it takes to change attitudes & behaviors in the weight-room, boardroom and everywhere in between.

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