The Coach Approach Ministries Podcast

Podcast Notes   Episode 486 The Wisdom Within Adaptation w/ Douglas Foltz Host: Brian Miller, PCC Guest: Doug Foltz Date: October 9, 2025 In this episode, Brian welcomes Douglas (Doug) Foltz, Head of Product at Church.tech, for a candid conversation about artificial intelligence and its impact on ministry, coaching, and human relationships. They explore the pace of AI innovation, ethical and theological implications for the Church, and how leaders can engage technology without losing the essence of humanity and connection. Key Highlights: Brian and Doug discuss the overwhelming speed of AI development and why even tech-savvy people feel left behind. Doug explains why organizations can’t simply “wait out” AI trends, noting that innovation requires anticipating where the technology is heading. They examine how AI can enhance, not replace, human work—especially in coaching and ministry contexts. Doug shares how Church.tech is using AI tools to improve sermon clarity, logic, and trauma sensitivity without removing the human voice. The conversation turns to the importance of developing a “theology of humanity” to ensure technology strengthens relationships rather than deepening isolation. Takeaways: The Church must engage AI thoughtfully, grounding its use in a theology of work and human dignity. AI can be a valuable tool for refining and supporting ministry, but it should never substitute genuine human presence or spiritual connection. Leaders should discern ethical lines between using AI for assistance and outsourcing authenticity. True innovation in faith communities means designing technology that draws people closer—to one another and to God.   Stay Connected: Website: coachapproachministries.org Email: info@coachapproachministries.org LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/coach-approach-ministries Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coach.approach.ministries Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@coachapproachministries7538 Follow us on social media for updates and resources!

Podcast Notes   Episode 485 A New Season Arrives Hosts: Brian Miller, PCC and Chad Hall, MCC  Date: October 2, 2025 In this episode, Brian Miller and Chad Hall share the significant announcement that Chad will be stepping away from Coach Approach Ministries after nearly twenty years of leadership. Together, they reflect on the journey, the transition process, and what lies ahead for both CAM and its community. The conversation balances gratitude for the past with excitement for the future, offering insights on leadership, stewardship, and embracing new seasons. Key Highlights Chad Hall announces his transition out of his role after almost two decades as president and co-founder of Coach Approach Ministries. Reflections on the emotional mix of grief and excitement that comes with leadership transitions. Insights from William Bridges’ transition model—recognizing loss while looking toward future opportunities. Growth of CAM from a small founding team to a large, thriving community of faculty, managers, and international students. Discussion on CAM’s future, including Brian’s leadership, expanded teaching, and possibilities for evolving the podcast format. Takeaways Transitions are best navigated by acknowledging both the grief of loss and the excitement of new beginnings. Healthy organizations thrive when leadership responsibilities are shared, developed, and eventually transitioned. Stewardship in leadership means knowing when to step aside for the organization’s growth. New seasons provide opportunities for creativity, fresh direction, and renewed engagement with community.   Stay Connected: Website: coachapproachministries.org Email: info@coachapproachministries.org LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/coach-approach-ministries Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coach.approach.ministries Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@coachapproachministries7538 Follow us on social media for updates and resources!

Podcast Notes   Episode 484 10,000 Hours of Coaching, 10,000 Hours of Learning w/ Laura-Catherine Etheridge Host: Brian Miller, PCC Guest: Laura-Catherine Etheridge, MCC Date: September 25th, 2025 In this episode, Brian speaks with Laura-Catherine Etheridge, MCC, a founding partner at Stratos2 and a seasoned coach with over 10,000 coaching hours. Laura shares her journey into coaching at a young age, the lessons she’s learned along the way, and what she wishes she could tell her younger self. The conversation highlights how presence, listening, and genuine care—not credentials—create the greatest impact in coaching. Key Highlights: Laura reached over 10,000 coaching hours and reflects on her early start in the field at age 24. She discovered coaching through hiring a coach while running her high school business. She emphasizes the importance of presence, listening, and caring deeply for clients over technical skills or credentials. Coaching success comes from creating safe, distraction-free spaces where clients can process and explore. Credentials matter less to clients than the sense that their coach cares and can genuinely help them. Takeaways: Coaching is most impactful when you focus on who you are as a person, not just what you know. Presence and deep listening create safety and trust, allowing clients to open up and move forward. Credentials and external markers have far less influence on clients than authentic care and practical support. Coaches should spend time working through their own distractions so they can be fully available for clients.   Stay Connected: Website: coachapproachministries.org Email: info@coachapproachministries.org LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/coach-approach-ministries Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coach.approach.ministries Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@coachapproachministries7538 Follow us on social media for updates and resources!

Podcast Notes   Episode 483 The Promise and Pitfalls of ChatGPT Hosts: Brian Miller, PCC and Chad Hall, MCC Date: September 18th, 2025 In this episode, the hosts reflect on their early experiences experimenting with ChatGPT, exploring both its surprising strengths and its frustrating limitations. What began with hesitation and even skepticism turned into curiosity as they discovered that working with AI requires learning a “new language.” They share examples of using ChatGPT for brainstorming, writing support, and planning, while also wrestling with issues of trust when the tool generated confident but false information.  Key Highlights Early reluctance to adopt AI gave way to curiosity and intentional use, framed as learning a “new language.” ChatGPT was tested as a professional thinking partner, helping with brainstorming, writing support, and planning. Trust issues emerged when AI confidently gave false or misleading information (e.g., fabricated movie scenes, podcasts, or emails). Iterative, back-and-forth prompting produced better results than one-shot requests. Teaching the model to mirror personal writing style improved authenticity and usefulness in content creation. Takeaways Treat AI as a collaborative partner, not a one-click solution. Be aware of AI’s tendency to “hallucinate” information and verify claims independently. Strong prompts and iterative dialogue are key to getting useful, authentic-sounding results. AI can accelerate creativity and productivity, but final ownership of content must remain human.   Stay Connected: Website: coachapproachministries.org Email: info@coachapproachministries.org LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/coach-approach-ministries Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coach.approach.ministries Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@coachapproachministries7538 Follow us on social media for updates and resources!

Podcast Notes   Episode 482 An Insight Into the Internal w/ Val Hastings Host: Brian Miller, PCC Guest: Val Hastings Date: September 11th, 2025 In this episode, Master Certified Coach Val Hastings shares insights from his book Coaching from the Inside and decades of experience training leaders and coaches worldwide. He unpacks what makes internal coaching unique, how it differs from external coaching, and why every leader can and should integrate coaching into their leadership style. Val also introduces guiding principles for internal coaches, highlighting both opportunities and challenges of coaching within an organization. Key Highlights: Val’s coaching journey began unexpectedly but led to a lifelong commitment to transforming leaders through an inside-out approach. Only 7% of coaches work as full-time external coaches—93% are internal leaders, supervisors, or professionals integrating coaching into their roles. Internal coaching presents unique challenges: existing relationships, vested interests in outcomes, confidentiality concerns, and “in-the-moment” hallway or workplace coaching. Three powerful principles from Val’s Guiding Principles of Internal Coaching: Coaching Initiative: internal coaches can proactively engage with clients in real time. Demonstrating Worth: internal coaches must continually educate and show value within their organizations. Hat Switching: balancing multiple roles (leader, supervisor, peer, coach) fluidly without derailing conversations. Coaching is often better caught than taught—demonstrations and live experiences help people grasp its transformative power more than explanations. Takeaways: Internal coaching is the reality for most professionals, and learning its unique dynamics is essential for effective leadership. Being intentional about confidentiality, boundaries, and bias safeguards trust when coaching inside an organization. Demonstrating value and educating others about coaching is critical even for internal coaches—visibility and clarity sustain impact. Leaders who master “hat switching” can seamlessly balance authority with coaching presence, maximizing both trust and effectiveness. Coaching from the inside-out creates sustainable cultural transformation, equipping leaders to unlock potential at every level. Get more of Val at the following: Coaching4Today’sLeaders Coaching4Clergy Check out his book! And don't forget to join us as we welcome Val back to host a free, online webinar that will showcase the power and impact of internal coaching! www.coachapproachministries.org/val    Stay Connected: Website: coachapproachministries.org Email: info@coachapproachministries.org LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/coach-approach-ministries Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coach.approach.ministries Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@coachapproachministries7538 Follow us on social media for updates and resources!

Podcast Notes   Episode 481 Choosing What (and What Not) to Adapt To Hosts: Brian Miller, PCC and Chad Hall, MCC Date: September 4th, 2025 In this episode, Brian and Chad explore the theme of adaptability. Prompted by Brian’s personal story of recovering from a four-wheeler accident that left him with a broken collarbone, the conversation unpacks how we experiment, adjust, and decide when to adapt—or not—in both personal life and leadership. They also connect these ideas to broader challenges such as incorporating AI, navigating societal changes, and discerning when adaptation aligns with one’s guiding principles. Key Highlights Brian shares his accident experience and how his recovery forced unexpected adaptations in everyday tasks. Adaptability often comes through experimentation—trial and error with temporary vs. permanent solutions. A catalyst (urgency or opportunity) usually pushes people to adapt; without it, many resist change. Adaptation is not always universal—leaders must discern what truly matters and align with a “North Star.” The tension between adapting to everything vs. choosing intentional limits, especially around technology, AI, politics, or social media. Takeaways Adaptability is less about convenience and more about resilience: finding creative solutions when circumstances shift. Temporary adaptations can carry us through transition periods without needing to define a permanent “new normal” too quickly. A guiding principle (your “North Star”) helps determine when to adapt and when to resist changes that distract or harm. Effective leaders adapt selectively—embracing necessary change while staying anchored to core values and priorities. Stay Connected: Website: coachapproachministries.org Email: info@coachapproachministries.org LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/coach-approach-ministries Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coach.approach.ministries Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@coachapproachministries7538 Follow us on social media for updates and resources!

Podcast Notes   Episode 480 Practicing a Relentless Empathy, w/ Dr. Brian Piccolo Host: Brian Miller, PCC Guest: Dr. Brian Piccolo Date: August 28th, 2025 In this episode, Brian interviews Dr. Brian Piccolo, author of Relentless Empathy. They discuss the transformative power of empathy in relationships, ministry, and everyday life. Dr. Piccolo shares personal stories from his marriage, ministry, and family that illustrate how empathy—understood as connecting, understanding, relating, and empowering—can heal, restore, and deepen human connection. Key Highlights Kobe Bryant’s influence: A quote from Bryant about regretting not having more empathy inspired Piccolo to research the concept in depth, discovering empathy’s relatively new place in language and culture. The C.U.R.E. model of empathy: Connect, Understand, Relate, Empower—Piccolo’s framework for applying empathy in practical, everyday settings. Biblical grounding: Scripture passages such as Hebrews 10:24, Philippians 2:4, and Romans 12:15 reinforce the call to empathy as central to discipleship and relational wholeness. Personal stories of transformation: Piccolo recounts connecting with his suicidal father through empathy, and how listening, mirroring emotions, and meeting needs can restore purpose and hope. Takeaways Empathy is an action: It goes beyond feelings of pity or sympathy to actively connect, listen, and respond to others’ needs. Questions equal love: Asking thoughtful questions communicates care and often does more good than offering advice or solutions. Empathy restores relationships: Whether in marriage, ministry, or family, practicing empathy opens doors to healing and deeper connection. Biblical call to empathy: Loving our neighbor as ourselves requires taking genuine interest in others’ lives, needs, and emotions. Stay Connected: Website: coachapproachministries.org Email: info@coachapproachministries.org LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/coach-approach-ministries Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coach.approach.ministries Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@coachapproachministries7538 Follow us on social media for updates and resources!

Podcast Notes   Episode 479 The Power (and Pressure) of Leading with Others Hosts: Brian Miller, PCC and Chad Hall, MCC Date: August 21st, 2025 In this episode, Brian and Chad explore the dynamics of coaching through a live demonstration. Brian steps into the role of client, reflecting on his leadership venture, the departure of his business partner, and the challenges of discerning what kind of partnership he needs moving forward. The conversation unpacks the tension between high performance patterns, partnership dynamics, and clarity about next steps in leadership. Key Highlights: A behind-the-scenes look at Brian’s real coaching session where he steps into the client role. The tension between being a high-performer alone vs. thriving when partnered with someone. How the departure of a trusted business partner can spark questions of identity, direction, and sustainability. The creative idea of “pseudo-partnerships” — alternatives to traditional 50/50 ownership models. The importance of accountability structures in leadership and how they influence success. Takeaways: Clarity comes not just from deciding whether you need a partner, but from defining what kind of partner best supports your vision. High performance patterns often reveal truths about how we work best, even when they feel limiting — accepting and working with them can prevent missteps. A partner doesn’t always need to be an equal co-owner; sometimes accountability and tactical execution are the missing ingredients. Moving slowly and intentionally into a new partnership (rather than rushing) helps ensure alignment and long-term sustainability. Stay Connected: Website: coachapproachministries.org Email: info@coachapproachministries.org LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/coach-approach-ministries Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coach.approach.ministries Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@coachapproachministries7538 Follow us on social media for updates and resources!

Podcast Notes   Episode 478 Brushstrokes & Breakthroughs with Mark Ross Hosts: Brian Miller, PCC Guest: Mark Ross Date: August 14th, 2025 In this episode, Brian Miller talks with Mark Ross — a coach, artist, and founder of Next Thing Group — about the parallels between painting and coaching, the value of curiosity, and the journey of navigating career transitions. Mark shares how art serves as a creative escape and a process of discovery, while coaching provides a similar space for exploration and growth. He recounts how burnout in his former career led him to seek coaching, eventually becoming a coach himself, and emphasizes the power of intentional relationships and openness to new opportunities. Key Highlights: Mark’s art process mirrors coaching — both involve starting without knowing the exact outcome and staying curious throughout. Painting serves as a form of mental reset, drawing Mark into a world of focus, experimentation, and discovery. Mark’s transition into coaching began during a period of burnout, sparked by guidance from influential mentors like Dan Miller. The International Coaching Federation’s (ICF) competencies gave Mark a clear framework to assess and grow his coaching skills. Relationships and intentional conversations have been the driving force behind Mark’s personal and professional growth. Takeaways: Creativity and coaching both thrive in environments of openness, exploration, and adaptability. Burnout can serve as a catalyst for reinvention when paired with intentional action and mentorship. Structured professional standards, like those from ICF, can provide valuable benchmarks for skill development. Building genuine relationships through curiosity-driven conversations can open unexpected doors and opportunities. Stay Connected: Website: coachapproachministries.org Email: info@coachapproachministries.org LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/coach-approach-ministries Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coach.approach.ministries Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@coachapproachministries7538 Follow us on social media for updates and resources!

Podcast Notes   Episode 477 Who's Really In Charge Here? Hosts: Brian Miller, PCC and Chad Hall, MCC Date: August 7th, 2025 In this episode, Brian and Chad explore how coaching principles can transform leadership within organizations. They discuss the tension leaders often feel between maintaining control and empowering others, and how adopting a coaching posture—rooted in humility, curiosity, and shared authority—can lead to more collaborative and impactful decision-making. The conversation draws on real experiences and offers insight into how coaching shapes not just conversations, but entire organizational cultures. Key Highlights: Coaching in leadership often involves navigating a tension between control and collaboration. Humility is central to a coaching posture and essential for effective leadership. Leaders frequently face pressure to have all the answers, but coaching invites shared exploration. The importance of slowing down in conversations to give space for others' thinking. Organizations may superficially embrace coaching while still defaulting to top-down, directive leadership styles. Takeaways: A true coaching posture prioritizes listening over telling and curiosity over certainty. Leadership is most transformative when it empowers others rather than asserting control. Shared authority doesn't mean giving up leadership—it means leading differently. Slowing down your responses and allowing others to process can create more meaningful and insightful conversations. Stay Connected: Website: coachapproachministries.org Email: info@coachapproachministries.org LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/coach-approach-ministries Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coach.approach.ministries Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@coachapproachministries7538 Follow us on social media for updates and resources!