Craft of Coaching Podcast

Kate Swoboda

Learn how to become a life coach with a strong skillset in the craft of coaching  through the Craft of Coaching podcast. The Craft of Coaching is hosted by Kate Swoboda, Director of Training for the ICF-accredited life coach training program, the Courageous Living Coach Certification. Learn more about our coach training program at https://TeamCLCC.com

  1. 5D AGO

    Ep 103: Stop Over-Focusing on 'Clarity' and Help People With This, Instead

    If "clarity" is the main outcome you're selling on your sales pages and in your "getting to know you" calls, it might be time to stop over-focusing there. In this episode of The Craft of Coaching, we explore why selling clarity can create false expectations—and we're talking about what clients actually need instead. While clarity sounds like a powerful promise, it can unintentionally trap clients in a perfectionist loop of waiting for the “right” answer. The truth? Real coaching happens when we help people build the capacity to move through uncertainty. We’ll dive into how to reframe your marketing and your coaching approach, so you can stop promising what coaching can’t guarantee—and start delivering what truly transforms. Plus, we’ll connect this approach to ICF Core Competencies and offer real questions you can use with your clients. If you’re ready to become the kind of coach who helps clients build resilience instead of relying on certainty, this episode is for you. Coaching + Courage + Community = CLCC. We're a life-changing program, for you to become a life-changing coach. Our Level 1 ICF-Accredited program has worked with graduates from around the world. The first life you change? It'll be your own. We're the Certified Life Coach Collective, or CLCC, and we're here to give you a powerful coaching skill-set mixed with profound personal and professional growth. Head to https://TeamCLCC.com to get our catalogue and the free "Become a Coach" video series to learn more about becoming a life coach, choosing a coaching niche, how coaches make money, and more. Social: LinkedIn

    17 min
  2. JAN 27

    Ep 102: Challenging a Client Without Losing the Relationship

    How do you challenge a client without damaging the coaching relationship? In this episode of The Craft of Coaching, we explore how skilled coaches use challenge—not as confrontation, but as transformation. If you’ve ever held back from asking a hard question or reflecting a client’s pattern because you were afraid they’d walk away, this episode is for you. We break down what it really means to challenge someone in a coaching conversation and how to do it in a way that builds trust, not breaks it. We’ll explore how experienced coaches create powerful breakthroughs by offering honest, compassionate challenge—and how this aligns with ICF Core Competencies like trust-building, presence, and evoking awareness. You’ll walk away with real phrases to use in session, insight into why clients crave challenge (even when they resist it), and tools for navigating discomfort with integrity. Whether you're a new coach still finding your voice or a seasoned practitioner refining your edge, this episode will change the way you view challenge. Coaching + Courage + Community = CLCC. We're a life-changing program, for you to become a life-changing coach. Our Level 1 ICF-Accredited program has worked with graduates from around the world. The first life you change? It'll be your own. We're the Certified Life Coach Collective, or CLCC, and we're here to give you a powerful coaching skill-set mixed with profound personal and professional growth. Head to https://TeamCLCC.com to get our catalogue and the free "Become a Coach" video series to learn more about becoming a life coach, choosing a coaching niche, how coaches make money, and more. Social: LinkedIn

    21 min
  3. JAN 20

    Ep 101: How To Know When You're People-Pleasing In Coaching

    Are you being a supportive coach—or are you just people-pleasing? In this episode of The Craft of Coaching, we take an honest look at what happens when coaches confuse kindness with avoidance, and how to recognize when you're prioritizing being liked over being effective. If you’ve ever hesitated to challenge a client, held back from naming a pattern, or found yourself drained after sessions, this episode is for you. You’ll learn how people-pleasing shows up in subtle coaching behaviors—and how to shift back into authentic support that fosters trust, not performance. We’ll explore how the ICF Core Competencies call us to higher standards of presence and truth-telling, and how your desire to “be nice” might actually be undermining your client’s growth. Whether you’re a new coach still developing your voice or a seasoned coach noticing these patterns in your work, this episode will help you discern the difference between showing up as a coach—and showing up as a caretaker. Coaching + Courage + Community = CLCC. We're a life-changing program, for you to become a life-changing coach. Our Level 1 ICF-Accredited program has worked with graduates from around the world. The first life you change? It'll be your own. We're the Certified Life Coach Collective, or CLCC, and we're here to give you a powerful coaching skill-set mixed with profound personal and professional growth. Head to https://TeamCLCC.com to get our catalogue and the free "Become a Coach" video series to learn more about becoming a life coach, choosing a coaching niche, how coaches make money, and more. Social: LinkedIn

    16 min
  4. JAN 13

    Ep 100: Supporting your clients (and yourself!) in these messy times

    How do you support your clients—and yourself—when the world feels like it’s falling apart? In this episode of The Craft of Coaching, we’re talking about what it means to coach through chaos, uncertainty, and grief. When clients bring in overwhelm, despair, or real-world fears, many coaches feel unsure about how to respond. Should you stay “neutral”? Try to uplift them? Hold space without absorbing their pain? We explore how to stay grounded as a coach in messy times, how to support clients without bypassing their real emotions, and what it actually means to be present—without performing. You’ll learn how to simplify your approach, listen without fixing, and recognize when you need to pause and seek support. We also connect these practices to ICF Core Competencies like cultivating trust, maintaining presence, and evoking awareness. Whether you’re a new coach or a seasoned pro, this episode is your permission slip to be human. Because coaching in today’s world isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being real. Coaching + Courage + Community = CLCC. We're a life-changing program, for you to become a life-changing coach. Our Level 1 ICF-Accredited program has worked with graduates from around the world. The first life you change? It'll be your own. We're the Certified Life Coach Collective, or CLCC, and we're here to give you a powerful coaching skill-set mixed with profound personal and professional growth. Head to https://TeamCLCC.com to get our catalogue and the free "Become a Coach" video series to learn more about becoming a life coach, choosing a coaching niche, how coaches make money, and more. Social: LinkedIn

    20 min
  5. JAN 5

    ep99: Your Client Voted for WHO?! Now What? What to do when a client's political values are wildly different from yours

    What do you do when your client’s political values are wildly different from yours? In this episode of The Craft of Coaching, we explore how to navigate political differences in coaching without sacrificing your values—or your presence. Whether a client makes a comment that goes against everything you believe in, or you discover deeper ideological gaps over time, the question becomes: Can I still coach this person with integrity? We’ll walk through how to stay grounded in the face of political tension, when to address a comment in-session, and when it’s time to set a boundary or end the coaching relationship altogether. You’ll also learn how to discern between a difference in opinion and a violation of human dignity, how to stay curious without bypassing your own ethics, and what the ICF Core Competencies say about navigating charged dynamics. Coaching in today’s world means being present to complexity. This episode offers tools, language, and clarity for those moments when values collide—and shows you how to coach with honesty, discernment, and compassion. Coaching + Courage + Community = CLCC. We're a life-changing program, for you to become a life-changing coach. Our Level 1 ICF-Accredited program has worked with graduates from around the world. The first life you change? It'll be your own. We're the Certified Life Coach Collective, or CLCC, and we're here to give you a powerful coaching skill-set mixed with profound personal and professional growth. Head to https://TeamCLCC.com to get our catalogue and the free "Become a Coach" video series to learn more about becoming a life coach, choosing a coaching niche, how coaches make money, and more. Social: LinkedIn

    22 min
  6. 12/15/2025

    Ep 98: Overwhelmed and Over It? Design a Coaching Roadmap That Actually Works

    Feeling overwhelmed by your coaching business goals? You’re not alone—and you’re not doing it wrong. In this episode of The Craft of Coaching, we’re breaking down how to create a business roadmap that actually works for you—not against you. Many coaches fall into the trap of overestimating what they can accomplish in a year—setting massive content creation or revenue goals that quickly lead to burnout and discouragement. We explore why most 12-month plans are destined to collapse, and how to design a sustainable, seasonally-aware roadmap that reflects your real life, your real energy, and your unique stage of business. You’ll learn: The 3 key areas your roadmap should focus on How to set supportive, non-overwhelming business goals What to prioritize in each season of growth How to align your business plans with your values and capacity Whether you’re relaunching your business, scaling up, or trying to stay consistent without burning out—this episode will help you build a business that feels like you. Coaching + Courage + Community = CLCC. We're a life-changing program, for you to become a life-changing coach. Our Level 1 ICF-Accredited program has worked with graduates from around the world. The first life you change? It'll be your own. We're the Certified Life Coach Collective, or CLCC, and we're here to give you a powerful coaching skill-set mixed with profound personal and professional growth. Head to https://TeamCLCC.com to get our catalogue and the free "Become a Coach" video series to learn more about becoming a life coach, choosing a coaching niche, how coaches make money, and more. Social: LinkedIn

    22 min
  7. 12/08/2025

    Ep 97: What Coaches Get Wrong about Nervous System Regulation and How to Help

    Let’s talk about what it really means to help clients with nervous system regulation. Kim Kimball—a CLCC grad, Doctor of Physical Therapy, and somatic leadership coach—joins us to unpack the difference between true regulation and what’s often just emotional bypassing. We explore how to help clients recognize what’s actually happening in their bodies, work with their capacity instead of against it, and build businesses that feel sustainable rather than depleting. This conversation digs into how highly sensitive and neurodivergent entrepreneurs can honor their wiring, stretch within capacity, and stop forcing themselves into systems that were never built for them. If you’ve ever wondered how to support clients in regulating without repressing, or how to bring a somatic lens into your coaching in an ethical, trauma-informed way—this episode is a must-listen. Coaching + Courage + Community = CLCC. We're a life-changing program, for you to become a life-changing coach. Our Level 1 ICF-Accredited program has worked with graduates from around the world. The first life you change? It'll be your own. We're the Certified Life Coach Collective, or CLCC, and we're here to give you a powerful coaching skill-set mixed with profound personal and professional growth. Head to https://TeamCLCC.com to get our catalogue and the free "Become a Coach" video series to learn more about becoming a life coach, choosing a coaching niche, how coaches make money, and more. Social: LinkedIn

    32 min
  8. 12/01/2025

    Ep 96: From Coach to Founder: How Megan Hale Turned Her Vision Into a Multi-Million-Dollar Company

    What does it really take to go from coach to founder? In this episode, we talk with Megan Hale, MA, founder and CEO of DreamMoney.co, about what it means to evolve from running a coaching practice to building a tech startup. After a decade in the coaching world, Megan made the leap into software development—raising $150K in grants and funding her first platform as a non-technical founder. We unpack the mindset shift that happens when you stop thinking like a solopreneur and start thinking like a founder: how to lead a vision that’s bigger than yourself, fundraise without burnout, and hold your nervous system steady through the unknown. If you’ve ever felt the call to build something larger than your current business—or wondered how to make that leap—this episode offers an inside look at what it takes to grow from coach to founder with courage, clarity, and strategy. Coaching + Courage + Community = CLCC. We're a life-changing program, for you to become a life-changing coach. Our Level 1 ICF-Accredited program has worked with graduates from around the world. The first life you change? It'll be your own. We're the Certified Life Coach Collective, or CLCC, and we're here to give you a powerful coaching skill-set mixed with profound personal and professional growth. Head to https://TeamCLCC.com to get our catalogue and the free "Become a Coach" video series to learn more about becoming a life coach, choosing a coaching niche, how coaches make money, and more. Social: LinkedIn

    30 min
5
out of 5
49 Ratings

About

Learn how to become a life coach with a strong skillset in the craft of coaching  through the Craft of Coaching podcast. The Craft of Coaching is hosted by Kate Swoboda, Director of Training for the ICF-accredited life coach training program, the Courageous Living Coach Certification. Learn more about our coach training program at https://TeamCLCC.com

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