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Professional Christian Coaching Today

Professional Christian Coaching Today

Hosted by Chris McCluskey & Kim Avery

Episodes

100

Latest episode

Jul 2026

Language

EN

About the show

Welcome to Professional Christian Coaching Today with Chris McCluskey and Kim Avery, a weekly podcast dedicated to informing, inspiring, and equipping Christians in the art and science of professional-grade Christian coaching. Along with cutting-edge content, you'll hear great interviews with guests such as Dan Miller, Michael Hyatt, Dr. Gary Collins, Kary Oberbrunner, Dr. Marilee Adams, Dr. Richard Swenson, C.J. Hayden and more. Our goal is to raise the standard in coaching and change the world.

Listen to episodes

60 recent
August 11, 20261 hr 17 min

Coaching Mastery featuring Andrew Gorter - #457

What does master-level coaching sound like when a leader faces one of the hardest conversations they'll ever have? In this Coaching Mastery episode, Dr. Andrew Gorter coaches a leader preparing to let a team member go. Rather than offering advice or leadership techniques, Andrew demonstrates how powerful coaching helps clients discover their own clarity, strengthen their leadership identity, and move confidently into difficult situations. Throughout the coaching session, Cindy Schmelzenbach, MCC pauses to highlight the International Coaching Federation (ICF) Master Certified Coach (MCC) competencies at work, helping listeners understand not only what Andrew is doing, but why his coaching creates such meaningful transformation. Whether you're pursuing an ICF credential, developing your coaching skills, or simply wanting to lead others with greater wisdom and presence, this episode offers a rare opportunity to hear masterful coaching in action. In this episode, you'll discover: * Why masterful coaches resist the urge to solve their client's problem. * How powerful coaching moves from managing circumstances to shaping leadership identity. * What it looks like to partner with a client instead of directing the conversation. * How simple, thoughtful questions can unlock profound insight. * The importance of honoring both compassion and clarity during difficult leadership moments. * How awareness naturally leads to confident action. Featured Guests Dr. Andrew Gorter, MCC is a Master Certified Coach, licensed marriage and family therapist, and founder of Plus One Coaching. For more than 25 years, he has coached family business leaders, executives, and organizations toward greater clarity, healthier leadership, and lasting impact. Learn more about Andrew Gorter: https://plusonecoaching.com/  Cindy Schmelzenbach, MCC serves as Director of Education for the Professional Christian Coaching Institute. She is a Master Certified Coach, Gallup Certified Strengths Coach, ICF Mentor Coach, and Global Ambassador for the International Coaching Federation's Coach Education Community. Her commentary throughout this episode helps listeners recognize the subtle coaching choices that distinguish MCC-level coaching. Learn more about Cindy Schmelzenbach: https://coachingwithcindy.com/ Resources Mentioned Coaching Process Diagram: https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/bundle ICF Minimum Skills Requirements for MCC Coaching: https://coachingfederation.org/resource/mcc-minimum-skills-requirements/  Professional Christian Coaching Institute: https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/   --- Start your journey to become a Professional Christian Life Coach!  Connect with an Academic Advisor: https://calendly.com/d/cqkt-5nf-5pw/connect-with-an-academic-advisor?utm_source=podcast Join the Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/professionalchristiancoaching/ Our gift to you! 15+ Hours of FREE Training "The Ultimate Christian Coaching Bundle": https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/bundle PCCI Website: https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChristianCoaching/videos

July 7, 202638 min

The Emerging Orthodox Coaching Movement - #456

What if coaching is not another leadership trend, but a deeply practical way to help Christian leaders listen, discern, and lead with greater clarity? In this conversation, Chris McCluskey talks with Fr. Ian Pac-Urar and the Reverend David Limiero about the emerging Orthodox Christian coaching movement and why professional-grade coaching is gaining traction among clergy, ministry leaders, and people of faith. Together, they explore why coaching can be especially meaningful in ministry settings where leaders often carry heavy responsibility, complex decisions, and a quiet sense of isolation. Rather than offering advice from the outside, coaching creates space for leaders to hear themselves think, notice what God may already be stirring, and discern the next faithful step with greater clarity. They also discuss how coaching fits naturally alongside the Orthodox tradition's deep emphasis on contemplation, sacred listening, humility, and discernment. Far from replacing pastoral care, spiritual direction, mentoring, confession, or discipleship, coaching can strengthen the way leaders listen, serve, and accompany others in the life of faith. For those interested in learning more about coaching within the Orthodox Christian context, visit: orthodoxcoaching.net edensviewcoaching.com/orthodox professionalchristiancoaching.com/orthodox --- Start your journey to become a Professional Christian Life Coach!  Connect with an Academic Advisor: https://calendly.com/d/cqkt-5nf-5pw/connect-with-an-academic-advisor?utm_source=podcast Join the Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/professionalchristiancoaching/ Our gift to you! 15+ Hours of FREE Training "The Ultimate Christian Coaching Bundle": https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/bundle PCCI Website: https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChristianCoaching/videos

June 9, 202631 min

From Calling to Clients - #455

Marketing your coaching can feel overwhelming, especially when every platform, expert, and algorithm seems to be shouting a different set of instructions. Should you post more? Network more? Launch something? Create a download? Start a podcast? Before long, the calling that once felt clear can get buried under pressure, comparison, and a very loud list of "shoulds." This conversation brings a welcome sense of clarity and calm. You'll hear a grounded, practical approach to building a coaching business without hype, gimmicks, or frantic self-promotion. Instead of chasing every strategy, you'll be invited back to a few timeless principles that help you build trust, serve generously, and take the next faithful step toward the clients you're called to serve. Connect with Kris Kelso and get your free inventory: Hats Exercise: A Guide to Mastering Your Many Roles as a Solopreneur KrisKelso.com/hats --- Start your journey to become a Professional Christian Life Coach!  Connect with an Academic Advisor: https://calendly.com/d/cqkt-5nf-5pw/connect-with-an-academic-advisor?utm_source=podcast Join the Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/professionalchristiancoaching/ Our gift to you! 15+ Hours of FREE Training "The Ultimate Christian Coaching Bundle": https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/bundle PCCI Website: https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChristianCoaching/videos

May 12, 202637 min

Growing Your Coaching Practice with Associates with Sylvia Laurence - #454

What does it really look like to grow a coaching practice beyond "company of one"? In this episode, we talk with Sylvia Laurence, founder of Trevero, about scaling with associates, navigating rapid post-Covid growth, and the hard lessons that shaped her leadership along the way. From overstaffing and pruning to narrowing her niche within the Chick-fil-A ecosystem, Sylvia shares how clarity, focus, and decisive action created traction that broad marketing never could. If you've ever considered expanding your practice, this conversation offers grounded wisdom. You'll hear why growth often comes through pruning, how to market with precision instead of noise, and what leaders must learn internally before bringing on associates. Connect with Sylvia Laurence: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sylvialaurence/ --- Start your journey to become a Professional Christian Life Coach!  Connect with an Academic Advisor: https://calendly.com/d/cqkt-5nf-5pw/connect-with-an-academic-advisor?utm_source=podcast Join the Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/professionalchristiancoaching/ Our gift to you! 15+ Hours of FREE Training "The Ultimate Christian Coaching Bundle": https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/bundle PCCI Website: https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChristianCoaching/videos

April 14, 202634 min

Ai and the Future of Coaching: Should Coaches Be Worried? - #453

The future of coaching is changing fast. But not in the way you might think. In this episode, we slow down the conversation around AI and take a thoughtful look at what's actually ahead. You'll walk away with clarity, a steadier sense of your place in it all, and a deeper confidence in what truly matters in coaching. * Understand four possible futures shaping coaching by 2036 * See how AI may expand coaching without replacing it * Identify the skills that will become more valuable over time * Feel grounded in your role as a coach in a changing world 2026 ICF Coaching Futures Report: icfcoachingfuturesreport.com/ International Christian Coaching Day Resources:  professionalchristiancoaching.com/day    --- Start your journey to become a Professional Christian Life Coach!  Connect with an Academic Advisor: https://calendly.com/d/cqkt-5nf-5pw/connect-with-an-academic-advisor?utm_source=podcast Join the Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/professionalchristiancoaching/ Our gift to you! 15+ Hours of FREE Training "The Ultimate Christian Coaching Bundle": https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/bundle PCCI Website: https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChristianCoaching/videos

March 10, 202637 min

Coaching Through Suffering #452

Suffering eventually walks into every coaching conversation. The question is not whether it will appear, but how we will respond when it does. In this thoughtful and grounded conversation, we explore what it means to stay present with clients in seasons of pain without rushing to fix, rescue, or theologize too quickly. You'll hear practical wisdom for normalizing hardship, honoring the limits of the coaching lane, and holding fast to the redemptive hope of our faith while remaining deeply attuned to the human experience in front of us. In this episode, you'll gain: * A clearer framework for coaching clients who are walking through deep suffering * Confidence in staying present without trying to "solve" the pain * Insight into when to refer to counseling and how to recognize those indicators * Encouragement to anchor your coaching in Scripture without becoming directive * A renewed vision for how suffering, held in faith, can lead to transformation --- Start your journey to become a Professional Christian Life Coach!  Connect with an Academic Advisor: https://calendly.com/d/cqkt-5nf-5pw/connect-with-an-academic-advisor?utm_source=podcast Join the Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/professionalchristiancoaching/ Our gift to you! 15+ Hours of FREE Training "The Ultimate Christian Coaching Bundle": https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/bundle PCCI Website: https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChristianCoaching/videos

February 10, 202632 min

Coaching From a Place of Presence #451

Presence lies at the center of both professional coaching and Christian formation. This episode explores presence not as a technique or coaching skill alone, but as a disciplined way of being. For Christian coaches, presence is where ICF-aligned professionalism and faith come together rather than compete. In coaching, presence means being fully engaged, comfortable with not knowing, able to work with silence, and responsive rather than reactive. Spiritually, Scripture reveals God as a present God. From the burning bush to the ministry of Jesus, transformation flows from attentive presence, not hurried action. The conversation addresses a key truth: we cannot be present with clients beyond the level we are present with ourselves. Stillness, surrender, and self-awareness shape our ability to hold space for others. Practical reflections highlight what Christ-centered, client-centered presence looks like in real sessions, including honoring boundaries, resisting advice-giving, trusting the process, and allowing insight to emerge in its own time.   --- Start your journey to become a Professional Christian Life Coach!  Connect with an Academic Advisor: https://calendly.com/d/cqkt-5nf-5pw/connect-with-an-academic-advisor?utm_source=podcast Join the Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/professionalchristiancoaching/ Our gift to you! 15+ Hours of FREE Training "The Ultimate Christian Coaching Bundle": https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/bundle PCCI Website: https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChristianCoaching/videos

January 13, 20261 hr 15 min

Coaching Mastery featuring Bryan Brown, MDiv, MCC - #450

Few things sharpen a coach's skills more than listening in on a real coaching session guided by MCC-level insight. In this episode, you'll hear an actual recording from Bryan Brown, MCC, a session that was part of the portfolio he submitted for his Master Certified Coach credential. His calm presence, precise questions, and steady partnership offer a rare look at coaching mastery in real time. Along the way, Cindy Schmelzenbach, MCC, provides thoughtful commentary that highlights what's happening beneath the surface. She draws attention to the subtle skills Bryan uses to evoke awareness, empower choice, and hold space for deep transformation. Whether you're an experienced coach or still growing your confidence, this combination of live coaching and expert reflection will equip, inspire, and expand your understanding of what truly excellent coaching can sound like. About Cindy Schmelzenbach, MCC Cindy has a passion for supporting coaches in personal and professional development journeys. Having lived internationally in leadership roles for 27 years, she's energized by diverse cultures and human experiences. These experiences enhance her coaching interactions significantly. Cindy holds her ICF MCC credential and is a certified Mentor Coach and Coach Supervisor. Additionally, she's a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach with an MA in Counseling. She serves as Director of Education at Professional Christian Coaching Institute, an ICF accredited level 1 and level 2 provider. In her private practice, she offers life coaching, CliftonStrengths coaching, ICF mentor coaching and coach supervision. Learn more at: https://coachingwithcindy.com -- About Bryan Brown Bryan Brown, MDiv, PCCis the President and Founder of Coaching To Lead, LLC. With 25 years experience in developing leaders, Bryan enjoys increasing the capacity and confidence of emerging leaders as well as coaching established leaders to maximize their influence. Bryan also enjoys using his experience to work with teams on strategic planning and team development. Bryan studied Human Resource Management at Samford University then received his M.Div. from Birmingham Theological Seminary. As a missionary, pastor, entrepreneur, husband and father, he has learned to apply the principles of Biblical leadership and team development in multiple contexts. Bryan currently serves as the International Leadership Director at Perimeter Church in Atlanta, working with pastors and church leaders who seek to ignite movements of Life on Life Missional Discipleship around the world. In this role, he has the privilege to regularly train and coach leaders in Australia, South Africa, and Brazil among others. Bryan also engages leaders through his private coaching practice, www.coachingtolead.com, to clarify and intentionally pursue their callings. His passion and experience is coming alongside leaders to accelerate their growth and influence, while at the same time maintaining their personal health and enjoying the opportunities before them. Bryan is also the developer of Trusted Leader 360 °a  Christ-centered 360° tool designed to help leaders grow in emotional intelligence, relational trust, and lasting impact The Coaching Process diagram: www.professionalchristiancoaching.com/bundle    --- Start your journey to become a Professional Christian Life Coach!  Connect with an Academic Advisor: https://calendly.com/d/cqkt-5nf-5pw/connect-with-an-academic-advisor?utm_source=podcast Join the Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/professionalchristiancoaching/ Our gift to you! 15+ Hours of FREE Training "The Ultimate Christian Coaching Bundle": https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/bundle PCCI Website: https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChristianCoaching/videos

December 9, 202529 min

A Few of Our Favorite Things: Episode 4 #449

What if the best parts of the year were not the biggest ones, but the quiet gifts of God hidden right in plain sight? In this fourth "Favorite Things" conversation, we pause to look back before we look ahead. Not to count achievements or tally wins, but to name the ordinary graces that formed us. The tables that gathered people. The roads that reopened after seasons of waiting. The work that surprised us with joy. The callings that deepened instead of diminished. Threaded through it all is the goodness of God. The steady gift of family and friendship. And the quiet force of coaching as it shapes leaders, ministries, and everyday lives from the inside out. This episode is an invitation to slow down long enough to remember. To notice what God has done. To give thanks for what did not have to happen but did. Before the year turns, let gratitude open your eyes to the grace that has been carrying you all along. --- Start your journey to become a Professional Christian Life Coach!  Connect with an Academic Advisor: https://calendly.com/d/cqkt-5nf-5pw/connect-with-an-academic-advisor?utm_source=podcast Join the Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/professionalchristiancoaching/ Our gift to you! 15+ Hours of FREE Training "The Ultimate Christian Coaching Bundle": https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/bundle PCCI Website: https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChristianCoaching/videos

November 11, 202531 min

Coaching Neurodiversity: A Physician's Journey with Mary Jones, M.D. #448

When you walk into a doctor's office, you expect medical expertise, but what if you also experienced deep listening, hope, and the dignity of being truly heard? That's the kind of care Dr. Mary Jones offers. As a pediatrician and coach, she weaves together her medical background and coaching skills to help families navigating neurodiversity, especially ADHD and autism, rediscover direction, peace, and renewed faith in what's possible.  In this episode, Dr. Jones shares how coaching has transformed both her practice and her perspective. From listening with curiosity instead of rushing to diagnose, to creating space for the Holy Spirit to work in every encounter, her story reminds us that presence can be the most powerful prescription of all. Key Takeaways: • Listening with curiosity restores dignity, clarity, and hope • Healing often begins when someone feels seen and heard • A coach approach helps professionals serve the whole person-body, mind, and spirit • Even a few moments of intentional presence can make a lasting impact About Dr. Mary Jones As a pediatrician, my mission is to ensure every child on the autism spectrum is recognized, supported, and celebrated as early as possible. I am committed to fostering early and accurate diagnosis, empowering families through education and resources, and advocating for a world where every child's unique potential is embraced and nurtured. Learn more about Dr. Mary Jones at www.brighstartshealth.com   --- Start your journey to become a Professional Christian Life Coach!  Connect with an Academic Advisor: https://calendly.com/d/cqkt-5nf-5pw/connect-with-an-academic-advisor?utm_source=podcast Join the Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/professionalchristiancoaching/ Our gift to you! 15+ Hours of FREE Training "The Ultimate Christian Coaching Bundle": https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/bundle PCCI Website: https://professionalchristiancoaching.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChristianCoaching/videos

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