Coaching, Neuroscience And Consciousness

Trauma is all around us, and more and more coaches are aware of the impact on their clients. At BEabove Leadership, we focus on the damaging impact of relational trauma, whether from families of origin, intimate partners, or workplace leaders/colleagues. In this episode, Ann and Ursula dig into the who, what and when of working with this sort of trauma in coaching. We'll look at questions including what is appropriate and what isn't? How do we stay in the coaching lane when trauma comes into the conversation? How do you recognize that trauma has played or is playing a part in what's going on with your client? When do you refer to therapy and when do you carry on? We'll even look at what the International Coach Federation has to say.   

Bring any and all questions about neuroscience, human effectiveness, and coaching and Ann and Ursula will attempt to answer and give advice as best they can! If you can’t attend live, please send your questions to khalida@beaboveleadership.com. Recording will be available in our archives after the show.

Could it be that true effectiveness is more than simple efficiency or even meeting our goals? At BEabove Leadership, we think a lot about personal, group and organizationaleffectiveness, but what does this really mean? In this eopisode Ann and Ursula explore the neuroscience behind why "effectiveness" is critical to human well-being, and offer some time tested and research-based ways to achieve it. 

Empathy is deeply important to human beings and healthy relationships, but what is it, really? Join BEabove Leadership co-founders for a fascinating look at the many ways our brains and bodies connect with each other. From mirror neurons that help us feel what is happening in another person's experience to the benefits and challenges of cognitive empathy, this show will explore the rich complexity of our interrelated empathetic connections. 

We are thrilled to have neuroscience expert Joseph Fridman for a lively discussion of how the "three layer" model of the brain is wrong, and why this matters. We'll look at why this myth continues to prevail in conversations about emotional intelligence and coaching, and how it limits human growth and awareness. We'll also discuss more accurate ways of discussing brain complexity as it relates to our emotional life.  Joseph is a researcher and science communicator at the Interdisciplinary Affective Science Laboratory at Northeastern University and Massachusetts General Hospital, which is co-directed by Lisa Feldman Barrett and Karen Quigley, and focuses on studying emotions. (For more on Joseph and his fascinating background, see here: https://www.josephfridman.com/about)   

Riverside, California is lucky to have teacher, coach and neuroscience (and consciouness) fan Shay Sun. For the past few years, he has been teaching coaching skills and neuroscience concepts and tools to peer leaders, as well as using them in his own teaching. Join us for a fun, rich, dynamic interview with this amazing teacher and human. Shay will share with us some of his ideas for what young people need, and how we can support them based on the brain and consciousness. 

Laughter is indeed often the best medicine. In this episode, humor expert Jim-Bob Williams joins Ann and Ursula for an exploration of how humor can help us get through, well, anything, including a global pandemic. We'll look at the science behind why humor helps with stress and uncertainty, and probably tell a few jokes as well! About Jim-Bob Williams Talented.  Handsome. Accomplished.  Jim-Bob Williams knows a lot of people like that.   Jim-Bob practiced the principles of therapeutic humor during his career as an engineer and manager for two major chemical companies.  Humor and levity helped in many stressful situations, such as mergers, compliance audits, and systems upsets at work, and the loss of his youngest son to overdose in 2019. It wasn’t until he retired that Jim-Bob realized there was scientific method to his madness. He joined the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor AATH to become certified certifiable!  He serves as AATH Secretary and on the Illuminutty, AATH’s Research Council, and

Our brains are shaped by our culture, experience, and even what we have inherited. In this session, Ann and Ursula are joined by generational expert Lindsay Boccardo for a fascinating look at how different generations tend to respond to crisis -- and what their brains may have to do with it. 

Coaches tend to score high in what is called "felt empathy," that is, processing other people's emotions and challenges through our own brains and bodies. This is an amazing skill in terms of deep understanding, insight, and compassion -- all critical aspects of our profession. But it can also lead to the coaching version of compassion fatigue, where a client's issues feel energetically draining and even overwhelming, and/or are difficult to let go of between sessions. In this session, Ann and Ursula will look at helpful strategies for coaches to maintain their empathy and connection without burning thrmselves out. 

In this lively conversation, Ann and Ursula will expore how the science of emotions -- and in particular, the role of prediction -- applies to consciously creating our future. Join us for a fascinating glimpse into the year ahead!

Earlier this year, Ann had the chance to speak at the American Association of Theraputic Humor, which meant some brand-new research on the impact and effect of humor on our brains and biochemistry. In this fascinating episode, she'll share her findings about what makes something funny and why. She and Ursula will also map humor to the BEabove model of the Seven Levels of Effectiveness, looking at the impact "below the line" and "above the line" humor has on our brains, bodies and consciousness. Join them for this interesting (and we hope) light-hearted episode.

We speak in ways that show our fundamental view of areas of life. For example, do we use a lot of war or sports metaphors in business? We may see that part of life as a battle or a game with clear winners and losers. Do we use a great deal of gardening metaphors when speaking of our children? We may see them as needing nurturing and tending to grow. Recognizing (and then shifting if need be) our "meta-metaphor" can change our entire lives. Join Ann and Ursula for personal examples and ways to discpver the metaphor that is shaping you -- and how to change that if you wish. (With a bonus discussion of the neuroscience around metaphor itself!)

Organziations have an energetic state that is both made up of and larger than the people who work there. Often there are historical incidents that create wounds of shame, abandonment, and betrayal. Building on the incredible work of Dr. Mario Martinez (The Mind-Body Code), in this episode we will explore what creates an organizational wound (or wounds) and how to bring a "healing field" so that the organization can more forward with true effectiveness. Organizational consultant Dr. Jean Davidson joins Ann and Ursula for this fascinating conversation. 

Individually and as business partners, we (Ann and Ursula) have been leaning into the wisdom, power and tools of the Seven Levels of Effectivness for almost 20 years. About 8 years ago, we added neuroscience to the mix. In this podcast, we talk about our journey and the impact of having a scientifically valid map of effectiveness to guide us. 

Many of us are parents, grandparents, aunts or uncles, mentors, teachers, etc., and ALL of us were children at one point. Parenting expert Gillian Rowinski joins us to look at parenting above the line -- and how understanding the complexities of both our own and our children's brains can help us be the kind of person we most want to be. Not only for the children we interact with, but for ourselves. 

Join us for another episode of our popular Advice Show. Email in advance or call in with your questions, difficult client situations, and more, and we'll do our best to see if we can help!

At BEabove Leadership, we think a lot about integration. I mean, a LOT. Integration of the right and left hemisphere, the prefrontal cortex and the limbic system, the task and default networks, the body and the brain, etc. We're fascinated (and convinced) that integration of all of these is the key to higher states of consciousness. Recently we've realized there is another critcal aspect to integration, which is our ability to have a powerful relatonship with the past, the present and the future. In other words, the integration of our relationship to time (or at least what we humans understand time to be).  Join us for our first public conversation about why this is so important and how to do it, and please, bring your questions, objections and personal thoughts on the matter. 

A few years ago, coach and experienced middle school teacher Shay Sun began exploring neuroscience. He quickly realized that there are some key "brain basics" every human should know, no matter how young, and he began sharing interesting brain stuff with his students. In the process of his exploration, we were priviliged to have him with us at BEabove for our Neuroscience, Consciousness and Transformational Coaching program, and he asked for permission to use our tools during homeroom time. The results have been extraordinary, and we are very excited to bring you a converation with this talented visionary about what, where and how he has been brining the neuroscience of consciousness to young people. You will NOT want to miss this!!

In this episode BEabove Co-Founders Ann Betz and Ursula Pottinga talk about the provocative topic that has been on people's mind - where the heck is the world coming to. Together they look at the neuroscience of consciousness and how brain integration is linked to being a less reactive, more peaceful and open human being.   

Summer brings its own expectations, delights, and complications. Join us for this fun and fascinating romp through the Seven Levels as we look at everything we want summer to be, and what the reality often brings. We'll look at the neuroscience research supporting each level and what this tells us about how to maximize enjoyment and minimize stress for the rest of the summer, and into the fall as well .