The Coaching Lab: Evidence-Based High Performance & Wellbeing
Self-Improvement
About
Stop chasing fads and start mastering the science of change. The Coaching Lab is the premier destination for health coaches, wellness professionals, executive coaches, and high performers who demand more than "fluff." Hosted by Dr. Brad Cooper , this podcast bridges the gap between complex performance psychology and real-world application. Whether you are a certified coach (ICF, NBHWC) looking to enhance client outcomes or a driven professional seeking a competitive edge, we provide the evidence-based tools you need to optimize human potential. We filter out the noise of headline-chasing trends to bring you deep-dive conversations with world-class researchers, elite athletes, and master clinicians. What you’ll master in the Lab: Behavior Change Science: Beyond willpower—how to facilitate lasting transformation using evidence-based coaching protocols. Performance Psychology: I
Episodes
- You're a Certified Health & Wellness Coach. Now What? (Career & Business tips)
You passed the NBHWC exam — congratulations! Now what? In this episode of The Coaching Lab , Dr. Cooper and Leigh deliver the post-certification roadmap every new National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC) needs. Whether yo…
- Margaret "Coach Meg" Moore: Pioneer of Health & Wellness Coaching
We are thrilled to have one of the pioneers of health & wellness coaching, Wellcoaches founder Margaret Moore (you likely know her as Coach Meg) join us on this special episode of The Coaching Lab podcast! Info re earning your health & wel…
- The Science of Slowing Down: Mindfulness, MBSR, and the Coaching Edge with Serena Jain, NBC-HWC
Most people think mindfulness means downloading an app or sitting quietly for ten minutes. Serena Jain is here to respectfully challenge that assumption — and to show coaches and high performers what's actually possible when mindfulness is…
- AI and Coaching: How to Use Artificial Intelligence Without Losing the Human Connection (Sara Parrode)
AI is transforming coaching, leadership, and the way we work—but how do you use it without losing what makes coaching powerful in the first place? In this episode of The Coaching Lab , we sit down with Sara Parrode, AI Coach for Executives…
- Measuring & Enhancing Peak Performance - Dr. Izzy Justice
We’ve all heard that peak performance is ‘all in your head,’ but our guest today invested time mapping where that ‘headspace’ lives. Dr. Izzy Justice is a world-renowned sports neuroscientist who notes he has analyzed over 18,000 EEG brain…
- The Business of Coaching: Systems, Stabilizers and Success
This is the final episode of our special 3-part series on the business of health & wellness coaching. Info re earning your health & wellness coaching certification , annual Rocky Mountain Coaching Retreat & Symposium & more via https://www…
- Food, Fitness & Free Will? (Bonus Episode)
Do you believe in free will? Really? Our answer to that questions influences SO much of our journey ahead. Text version available here Info re earning your health & wellness coaching certification , annual Rocky Mountain Coaching Retreat &…
- Brad Stulberg: The Way of Excellence
In a world of constant noise, endless distraction, and performative busyness, what does it mean to pursue true excellence? Not hustle-for-hustle’s-sake kind—but the kind rooted in values, meaning, and sustainable high performance. Today’s…
- How to price your coaching services
One of the most common questions among both new and established coaches is how to establish your pricing. In this episode, Leigh, Suzy and Brad provide a round-table discussion on a range of pricing-related topics ranging from how the mark…
- Beyond Goals: Dialing in YOUR Clear, Personal Vision
What is a clear, personal vision? How does it overlap (or influence) goals? Why does it matter? What are the steps to discovering and clarifying a vision? What does this have to do with my life? Why not just set goals or resolutions? In th…
- Science of Saunas: Wellbeing to Elite Performance (Daniel Gagnon, PhD)
The use of saunas is exploding in popularity in the US, but they’ve been a standard part of life in other parts of the world. Finland is the best example, with more than one sauna for every 2 people! What is it about the health, wellbeing…
- Deep Dive into the Business of Coaching
This special episode, hosted by Leigh Baker, with nationally board certified health & wellness coach (and business owner) Suzy Destarac and Dr. Brad Cooper, takes a deep dive into the business side of coaching. Info re earning your health…
- Protein, Muscle, Aging and Performance: What the evidence tells us (Professor Stuart Phillips)
Are we destined to lose our muscle mass over time? Is protein intake important? If so, what are the best forms of it? Does that amount change as we age? Is it influenced by physical activity? These – any related questions continue to domin…
- Ultimate Running Discussion with Brady Holmer!
Brady & Brad hit record and let it fly! If you're a runner, coach a runner, have considered adding running into your fitness routine or are simply curious about the latest insights and developments about getting the most out of your run, y…
- Finding Your People: Building Community in a Coaching Career
If you're a current or future health, wellness & high performance coach, this is an absolute must hear episode! Coaches are helping change the world for the better, and yet we often find ourselves isolated from the world in the process. Ex…
- NBHWC Executive Director Deanna Fournier (Past, Present & Future of Coaching)
Deanna Fournier, Executive Director of the National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching joins Leigh Baker and Brad Cooper for a deep dive into the past, present & future of credible, quality health & wellness coaching. Links mentioned dur…
- What is (Real) Coaching - Sabryna & Leigh Pull Back the Curtain
Curious about the realities of coaching? Why does it matter? What differentiates a credible coach from someone who's simply charismatic or hosts a popular social media site? What should you look for in a coach (or a coach for your employee…
- Drs. James & Janice Prochaska - Stages of Change Model Creators
One of our all-time favorite episodes, with a pair of LEGENDS in our profession and world, Dr. James and Dr. Janice Prochaska. Here is link to their most recent book Here is link to the video version mentioned in the intro: https://youtu.b…
- Influence of Resisted Breathing on Blood Pressure, VO2 Max and More! (Daniel Craighead, PhD)
What if the research indicated there was an inexpensive breathing exercise device that, if utilized about 5 minutes/day, could significantly reduce blood pressure and improve exercise performance? Resisted breathing – or what the science r…
- Behind the Curtain: Brad shares Bloodwork, Biometrics & Daily Routines as 60th Birthday Approaches
There are a lot of voices out there in the world of health, wellness & performance. Some – probably most of what we see on Instagram and Youtube – involve more show than go, more staged than engaged. Too often, it involves charismatic indi…
- Unscripted, Real, Live Coaching Session!
This special episode provides you the opportunity to be a fly on the wall during a real live coaching session with a NBHWC nationally board certified health & wellness coach. Info re earning your health & wellness coaching certification ,…
- Re-defining Able: Tricia Downing Discusses Resilience, Rebounds and Reality
In 2003, I was in New Zealand to compete in the Triathlon world championships. It was an amazing time. I met some amazing athletes from around the world, most notably Champion Barb Lindquist and Sheila Taormina, who went on to become the f…
- 7 Baby Steps to Health, Wellness & Performance (Applying Dave Ramsey's Money Principles to Life)
I was just thinking... What if we were to apply Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University concepts to our health, wellness and performance? In this special episode, Dr. Cooper flips on the mic and shares some initial thoughts about how we m…
- Chasing Mastery: Matt Fitzgerald (Part II)
This is Part II of the intriguing interview with Author, Coach and top endurance athlete Matt Fitzgerald on the subject of Chasing Mastery. If you missed Part I, it is available via any podcast app as the episode preceeding this one. While…
- Chasing Mastery with Matt Fitzgerald
Mastery. What does that encompass when it comes to our health, wellness & performance? How does mindset, consistency and growth affect it? What are the keys to making it a reality? In this discussion with renowned endurance sports author,…
- Unlocking Peak Performance
This special episode looks at specific (and practical) strategies for unlocking peak performance. It is based on the opening keynote presentation from Dr. Cooper at a conference in Colorado. Link to article resources mentioned in presentat…
- Chip Conley - A New Perspective on Midlife (Part II)
Midlife. For some, the word alone is enough to send shivers down the spine. It’s a time of challenge, change and potential confusion. Or – if you believe the perspective of today’s guest, Chip Conley, the beginning of the very best parts o…
- Chip Conley - Learning to Love Midlife (Part I)
Midlife. For some, the word alone is enough to send shivers down the spine. It’s a time of challenge, change and potential confusion. Or – if you believe the perspective of today’s guest, Chip Conley, the beginning of the very best parts o…
- The Explorer's Gene (Alex Hutchinson, PhD) - Part II
Welcome back to Part II of the interview with Dr. Alex Hutchinson, author of the fascinating new book - The Explorer's Gene: Why we seek big challenges, new flavors, and the blank spots on the map. You can find his book at AlexHutchinson.n…
- Alex Hutchinson, PhD: The Explorer's Gene
Exploration. The search for the unknown has shaped the history of our species, molding our behavior in ways we are only beginning to understand. And that understanding is about to come into focus for us today, thanks to today’s guest, best…
- Sleep: 20 Practical Strategies to a Better Night's Rest
Let's talk sleep! In this episode, Dr. Cooper walks through 20 specific strategies to a better night's sleep, including evidence based practices, tips from top researchers, and some tweaks he's playing with in his own sleep. To access prio…
- Coaching & Counseling: Everything You Need to Know
Welcome to a special episode of The Coaching Lab, where we’re discussing a hot topic in the world of health & wellness coaching: Coaching and Counseling. What’s the difference? How do they complement one another? Can one replace the other?…
- Steve Magness - Win the Inside Game (Part II)
For the first time in our 350+ episodes, we split an interview into two separate episodes due to the wonderful depth and length of this outstanding discussion with best-selling author, athlete and coach Steve Magness! If you missed the fir…
- Steve Magness - Win the Inside Game!
The great Yogi Berra was famous for saying “Baseball is 90% mental. The other half is physical.” While that brings a smile to our face, he may have been onto something… something that applies to each of us across the spectrum of pursuits.…
- Not Done Yet! Bolstering Life's 2nd Half
Are you in the 2nd half of life? or are you a coach coming alongside those looking to make the most of THEIR second half of life? It's a unique journey, and one we felt could benefit from a new resource created specifically to bring insigh…
- How to Get Started (or Bolster Your Career) as a Health & Wellness Coach
This special episode focuses on key essentials to getting started in a career as a health, wellness & performance coach, including the 4 primary ways to get started. Here is the link to the YouTube Coaching Channel playlist mentioned in th…
- Experience a Real, Live, Unscripted Coaching Session
In this very special BEST of The Coaching Lab episode, you'll get to tune into a real, live - and completely unscripted - coaching session between a NBHWC nationally board-certified health & wellness coach and her client. Info re earning y…
- How to Create a Clear, Personal Vision (Brad Cooper, PhD)
Goals? They can be beneficial, but there's an even more valuable process available for those who truly want to bolster their personal or professional lives (or both!). In this special episode, Dr. Cooper discusses the value of creating a c…
- How to Choose the Best NBHWC Coaching Certification for You
One of the most common questions we receive is how best to narrow down the 120+ NBHWC-approved health & wellness coaching certification programs to the one that is best for you. There isn't an easy answer, as the needs, goals and preferenc…
- Intersection of Mental Wellbeing and High Performance (Daniel Brown, PhD)
Welcome to the latest episode of The Coaching Lab! We're thrilled to have Dr. Daniel Brown of the University of Portsmouth with us, a leading expert & researcher on the psychology of human excellence and wellbeing, including the impact of…
- How to Grow My Coaching Business
In this special "Coaching Q & A" episode of The Coaching Lab, Dr. Cooper discusses 3 specific and immediately applicable strategies you can implement to grow your coaching business. This is not an easy question for anyone (including us, an…
- Dopamine Unplugged! (Talia Lerner, PhD)
Welcome to The Coaching Lab’s 'Dopamine Unplugged' episode, where we dive into the fascinating world of dopamine—our brain’s supposed superstar neurotransmitter! Is it really the 'happiness chemical,' or are there more nuanced truths behin…
- I'm Drowning! (Mindset Episode)
We all feel like we're drowning at times, sinking beneath the surface and unable to come up for air. What then? Engaging with a therapist or seeking help through the suicide and crisis hotline (text 988 - available 24/7) may be a necessary…
- The Norwegian Method: Brad Culp
Welcome to The Coaching Lab! Today, we have a special guest who will pull back the curtain on one of the world’s most popular training strategies: The Norwegian Method with the guy who’s seen it all - Brad Culp (his new book is available h…
- Merging Possibility & Necessity (Mindset Episode)
The story of Steve Jobs and Apple may not be exactly as you've heard it. The real story lays out the value of merging possibility & necessity in our own lives. We take a deeper dive in this special Mindset episode of The Coaching Lab podca…
- Unleashing Human Potential: Fitness & Physiology Unpacked w/ Brady Holmer!
It’s been awhile since we’ve done a rapid-fire physiology and fitness episode, but today’s the day! Whether you’re a serious athlete or someone looking to make the most of their personal & professional outcomes, you’ll love this one. Today…
- Deliberate Reflection (Role of Dreams)
Today we discuss the potential influence of dreams in our lives and the role of deliberate reflection in bringing those dreams to the forefront. Info re earning your health & wellness coaching certification , annual Rocky Mountain Coaching…
- Weight Loss Meds: Myths & Realities (Dr. Sheri Poznanovic & Board-Certified Coach Erin Chain)
Less than 2 years ago, you’d likely never heard of GLP-1 mediations. Today, it’s on the tip of everyone’s tongue as the solution to weight management, has longstanding organizations like Weight Watchers on the verge of bankruptcy and is ma…
- September Snapshot of The Coaching Lab w/ CC & The Coach!
Missed an episode of The Coaching Lab in September? CC & the Coach provide a brief overview of the previous month's episodes! Info re earning your health & wellness coaching certification , annual Rocky Mountain Coaching Retreat & Symposiu…
- Breaking the Algorithm
Welcome to this special episode of The Coaching Lab podcast, where we discuss shifting out of autopilot, the negative side of tribes and what we can do to break the algorithm driving our lives. Info re earning your health & wellness coachi…