Humans, What's Normal? And the Essence of Brilliance.

On this episode of the Coaching Studio, host Lyssa deHart, MCC, sits down with Michael Stratford, MCC — the self-proclaimed Provocateur of Transformation — who, by the end of the conversation, reframes himself as something even more powerful: an Evocateur of Transformation.

Michael’s story is raw, humorous, and deeply human. From 56 different careers and a near brush with suicide to becoming one of the pioneers of modern coaching, he shares how discovering his own uniqueness became the foundation for his life’s work. Together, Lyssa and Michael explore what it means to coach humans, not “clients,” to let go of labels like “normal,” and to see difference not as a flaw but as the essence of brilliance.

Their conversation dives into the philosophy behind Michael’s immersive MillionQuest™ adventure. A gamified journey in self-mastery designed to help people positively impact one million sentient beings. They also unpack his book The Game of Coaching, exploring how play, curiosity, and presence can transform both coaches and the people they serve.

Witty, wise, and provocative, Michael reminds us that coaching is not about fixing anyone, it’s about evoking the singular human being who’s been there all along.

Check out his website.

Follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.

Season 5

Host: Lyssa deHart, LICSW, MCC, BCC
Let's Connect on LinkedIn
Website Lyssa deHart

Producer: Michele Logan

Video Editor: Sebastian Crespo

Social Media: Luciana Bottini

Music: Frolic by Harrison Amer

Subscribe, Rate, & Follow on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Resilience, Beauty, and the Generous Exchange with Dr. Maria Sirois

What if the hardest moments in life, loss, grief, upheaval, could become the fertile ground for resilience and even beauty?

In this moving conversation, host Lyssa deHart sits down with Dr. Maria Sirois, psychologist, resilience expert, and author of The Generous Exchange: How Attention to Beauty, Goodness, and Excellence Restores Us and Our World.

Together, they explore the science of post-traumatic growth, the truth about resilience as a practice, and the profound ways we can heal through connection, beauty, and compassion.

Maria shares wisdom drawn from her decades of work in pediatric oncology and positive psychology, revealing the “moves” resilient people make, facing reality, choosing what sustains them, and “borrowing better brains” when life feels too heavy. She offers a fresh understanding of grief as integration rather than completion and introduces the Japanese art of Kintsugi as a metaphor for holding both brokenness and wholeness at once.

From leadership to love, from burnout to beauty, this episode invites listeners to rediscover grounded optimism and the grace to grow through challenge.

Check out her website.


Follow her on LinkedIn and YouTube.

Season 5

Host: Lyssa deHart, LICSW, MCC, BCC
Let's Connect on LinkedIn
Website Lyssa deHart

Producer: Michele Logan

Video Editor: Sebastian Crespo

Social Media: Luciana Bottini

Music: Frolic by Harrison Amer

Subscribe, Rate, & Follow on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

On this episode of The Coaching Studio, host Lyssa deHart welcomes Jille Bartolome, MCC, a coach who has been shaping the profession since 1996. Known by colleagues and clients as “The Velvet Hammer,” Jille embodies a rare blend of compassion and candor, inviting people into courageous self-discovery while asking the questions that strike at the heart of what matters. In their conversation, Jille shares her personal journey into coaching, including the pivotal moment she discovered the field through a magazine article featuring Thomas Leonard.

She reflects on how coaching first transformed her own sense of authenticity and continues to evolve as the profession matures. Together, Lyssa and Jille explore why true coaching begins with self-awareness, how unresolved personal work shows up in sessions, and why coaching the person rather than the problem is the cornerstone of sustainable growth.

Jille also offers insights from decades as a mentor coach, faculty member, and ICF assessor. She highlights the growth edges many coaches face, particularly around creating clear agreements and facilitating lasting learning at the close of a session. Her stories underscore the importance of boundaries, transparency, and cultivating safe, empowering spaces for clients.

Looking ahead, Jille emphasizes the role of human connection as coaching’s most irreplaceable asset in a world increasingly shaped by AI. At the heart of her work, she hopes people leave with a deep trust in themselves and the courage to make decisions rooted in their own wisdom.

Check out her website.


Follow her on LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.

Season 5

Host: Lyssa deHart, LICSW, MCC, BCC
Let's Connect on LinkedIn
Website Lyssa deHart

Producer: Michele Logan

Video Editor: Sebastian Crespo

Social Media: Luciana Bottini

Music: Frolic by Harrison Amer

Subscribe, Rate, & Follow on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.