What does it truly mean to be an “expert” coach?

In this reflective season finale of PRIME SPACE, Elias Scultori, MCC [https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliasscultori/], explores a profound moment from his recent conversation with Ann Fogolin, MCC [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ann-fogolin-mcc-18aab06/] — a moment that opens the door to one of the deepest paradoxes in coaching: the more we grow, the more aware we become of how much we do not know.

Drawing from the foundational coaching tenets taught at PRIME Coaching Academy [https://www.primecoachingacademy.com/], Elias reflects on the idea that coaching is both a humbling and courageous act. In a profession often shaped by expertise, performance, and recognition, what happens when the coach steps out of the spotlight and creates space for the client’s own wisdom, power, and humanity to emerge?

This episode is an invitation to reconsider the role of knowledge, certainty, identity, and ego in the coaching relationship — and to explore the courage required to truly listen, remain curious, and serve without the need to be “the one who knows.”

A thoughtful closing to Season 4, this conversation speaks not only to coaches but to anyone interested in leadership, presence, growth, and authentic human connection.



Chapters

00:11 — A Moment from “The Future of Coaching” [https://youtu.be/aH4AhAy8xz8?si=SQ5uAiqTqhcbjr5A]

01:09 — What Real Experts Understand

02:06 — The Coaching Tenets

03:21 — Coaching as a Humbling and Courageous Act

05:21 — The Human Need to Be Right

06:29 — The Illusion of Knowing Another’s Experience

07:45 — When the Coach Becomes the Center

08:52 — Humility, Presence, and Empowerment

10:08 — The Courage to Truly Listen



Memorable Quotes

“Coaching is a humbling and courageous act.”

“What do we truly know about what is happening in the heart of this person in front of us?”

“That’s when we begin to truly listen.”

“Humility and courage. That’s at the core of coaching.”

Courageous Humility

In this heartfelt episode of PRIME SPACE, Elias Scultori, MCC [https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliasscultori/], explores one of the most overlooked realities of the coaching profession: isolation.

Behind the meaningful conversations, transformational moments, and professional growth, many coaches quietly navigate their practices in isolation. After the energy and connection of coach training programs fade, coaches often find themselves building businesses, holding complex client situations, and reflecting on ethical dilemmas alone.

This episode is a reminder that coaching was never meant to be a solitary path.

Elias reflects on the essential role of coaching communities, mentor coaching, supervision, peer reflection, and professional organizations in sustaining not only coaching excellence, but also emotional well-being, ethical clarity, and professional resilience.

From ICF [https://coachingfederation.org/] communities and peer coaching spaces to mentor relationships and industry associations, this conversation is an invitation to reconnect — not only with other coaches, but with the shared humanity at the heart of the profession.

If you have ever questioned yourself as a coach, felt isolated in your work, or hesitated to ask for support, this episode is for you.

In this episode

 * Why coaching can become an isolating profession
 * The hidden emotional cost of working alone
 * The importance of reflective practice and community
 * Why “a coach needs a coach”
 * Shame, vulnerability, and asking for support
 * The role of mentor coaching and supervision
 * Building sustainable professional relationships
 * How coaching communities strengthen ethical practice
 * Why volunteering and participation matter
 * Finding your professional “home” as a coach

Memorable Quotes

“Humans are social creatures. We need each other — and as coaches, we need other coaches.”

“For a coach, having a coach is an ethical issue.”

“We cannot do this alone.”

“This is an opportunity for us to exercise our transparency, authenticity, vulnerability, and live the coaching mindset.”

Chapters

00:13 – The loneliness many coaches experience

01:49 – The power of coaching community

02:54 – Coaching through complex client situations

03:53 – Why coaches also need coaching

05:17 – Shame, vulnerability, and asking for help

06:34 – Reflective practice and the coaching mindset

07:50 – Finding community through professional organizations

09:07 – Volunteering, contribution, and authentic connection

10:23 – Closing reflections and season four finale preview

You Are Not Alone

What does it mean to move a profession forward without losing its essence?

In this episode of PRIME SPACE, Elias Scultori, MCC [https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliasscultori/], is joined by Ann Fogolin, MCC [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ann-fogolin-mcc-18aab06/], for a thoughtful exploration of where coaching is heading and what may be at stake along the way. Drawing on decades of experience in coaching, mentor coaching, and assessment, they reflect on key inflection points in the profession, including the introduction of competency markers, the evolution of credentialing, and the growing influence of AI.

Rather than predicting trends, this conversation examines the deeper questions shaping the future of coaching: How do we preserve the human core of the work? What distinguishes coaching from adjacent practices? And what responsibility does the profession carry as it continues to define itself?

The dialogue invites coaches to consider not only where the industry is going, but how each practitioner participates in shaping that direction.

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction and welcome
02:08 – The evolution of coaching standards and the impact of PCC markers
07:08 – Credentialing, assessment, and the shift toward developmental evaluation
10:40 – AI in coaching: opportunities, tensions, and limitations
15:37 – The role of knowledge and shifting interpretations of coaching competencies
17:37 – Identity, maturity, and the ongoing definition of the profession
20:42 – Belonging vs. fitting in: a reflection on the profession’s future

Key Themes

 * The unintended consequences of standardization in coaching education
 * The distinction between demonstrating competencies and embodying them
 * Evolving approaches to mentor coaching and assessment
 * AI as both a tool and a mirror for the profession’s values
 * The importance of human connection in coaching conversations
 * The ongoing need to define a clear and shared coaching mindset

Memorable Quotes

“There are recordings where every box is checked—and there is no coaching happening.”  
“Coaching is not just about the solution. It’s about being seen, valued, and understood by another human being.”  
“AI can support the process, but it cannot replace the human connection that defines coaching.”  
“We are still trying to define our identity as a profession.”  
“You want to belong, not just fit in.”

The Future of Coaching

What if the key to transformation isn’t changing our thoughts—but changing how we think?

In this episode of PRIME SPACE, Elias Scultori, MCC [https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliasscultori/], is joined by Aaron Listhaus, ACC [https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronlisthaus/], for a thoughtful conversation exploring the distinction between individual thoughts and the patterns of thinking that shape them.

Together, they explore how clients often become trapped not by what they think, but by how they habitually think—patterns that quietly shape behavior, decision-making, and ultimately, life outcomes. Drawing from real client examples and the concept of “immunity to change,” Aaron reveals how coaches can help clients identify and shift the underlying cognitive habits that keep them stuck.

This episode moves beyond surface-level mindset work and into the deeper architecture of awareness—where lasting change actually occurs.

For professional coaches, this conversation sharpens the distinction between content and process—between what clients say and how they generate what they say. It reinforces a core truth of coaching: transformation is less about solving problems and more about evolving the system that produces them.

Chapters

02:56 – Why Thinking Patterns Matter More Than Thoughts
07:06 – Immunity to Change: Why We Stay Stuck
11:59 – Coaching the Pattern, Not the Content
14:27 – Shifting Perspective: Expanding the Client’s Lens
16:20 – The Marble Staircase: How Change Really Happens

Memorable Quotes

“It’s not the thought—it’s the thinking behind the thought.”
“Awareness gives you choice—and choice changes everything.”
“We don’t coach the problem; we coach the pattern that sustains it.”
“Lasting change isn’t a breakthrough moment—it’s a worn path, created over time.”

It's the Thinking, Not the Thought

There are some changes coming to the ICF Certification process.
What does that mean to you?
What does it say about coach training and development?

Beginning January 1, 2027, the International Coaching Federation (ICF) will eliminate performance recordings for ACC and PCC portfolio applications. In their place? A more robust, relationship-based, and developmental approach centered on mentor coaching.

In this episode of PRIME SPACE, Elias Scultori, MCC [https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliasscultori/], unpacks what this change really means—not just procedurally, but philosophically. This is more than a policy update. It’s a redefinition of how coaching mastery is cultivated, assessed, and embodied.

You’ll explore the shift from one-time performance evaluation to ongoing formative development, the introduction of the Mentor Coaching Qualification (MCQ), and why this evolution elevates—not dilutes—the integrity of ICF credentials.

More importantly, this conversation challenges a deeper question:
Are you pursuing certification… or development?

This episode invites you to reconsider your relationship with growth, standards, and what it truly means to become a great coach.

Chapters

00:00 — A Major Shift in Coaching Certification
01:39 — From Performance to Formative Development
04:39 — The Rise of Mentor Coaching (Done Right)
06:00 — Introducing the MCQ: Accountability for Mentors
10:32 — Beyond Technique: A Holistic View of Coach Development
13:06 — The Real Question: Why Certification at All?**

Quotes

“The spotlight is no longer on a moment—but on a lived developmental process.”
“Mentor coaching is not a requirement to complete. It is a process to inhabit.”
“You cannot separate skill development from the human being who is developing.”

Beyond the Recording - ICF Updates

Empathy is often named as a core coaching skill.
And yet… its depth continues to unfold the more we practice.

In this episode of PRIME SPACE, Elias Scultori, MCC [https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliasscultori/], moves beyond definitions and into the nuanced terrain where coaching excellence lives. While empathy is often cited as a foundational competency (ICF Core Competency 4.4), its definition remains vague, even among experienced coaches.

Drawing on the well-known distinction popularized by Dr. Brené Brown, this episode expands the conversation to include sympathy, emotional resonance, and compassion, revealing how each subtly but significantly impacts trust, partnership, and client agency.

Through precise language analysis and real coaching examples, Elias challenges coaches to examine not just what they say, but the internal stance from which their words emerge.

Recommended Video
• Brene Brown on Empathy vs Sympathy [https://youtu.be/KZBTYViDPlQ?si=Qrq2ZunUPJyLEVVB]

Chapters

00:00 — The Question Beneath the Competency
03:06 — Empathy in Practice: Beyond Words
06:19 — Sympathy: The Subtle Break in Partnership
08:17 — Emotional Resonance: Instrument or Interference?
11:04 — Compassion: The Hidden Urge to Fix
14:25 — Applied Distinctions: Real Client Moments

Memorable Quotes

“The moment you create distance, you weaken partnership.”
“Emotional resonance becomes powerful only when it stops being about you.”
“Compassion, unmanaged, is the gateway to fixing—and fixing breaks coaching.”
“It’s not the words you use—it’s the position you take.”

What Is Empathy... Really?

In this episode of PRIME SPACE, Elias Scultori, MCC [https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliasscultori/?skipRedirect=true], is joined by executive coach, supervisor, and abstract artist Cecilia McKay, PCC [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cecilia-mckay-ma-pcc-aatc-cec-49085445/], for a conversation that extends beyond language into the realms of perception, intuition, and creation.

Together, they explore coaching as an art form—where presence replaces performance, and where the unexpected becomes an invitation rather than a disruption. Cecilia shares how her artistic practice informs her coaching: letting go of rigid plans, listening beyond the intellect, and responding to what is emerging in the moment.

This dialogue challenges coaches to reconsider their reliance on words and to expand their practice through other forms of expression—objects, movement, environment, and imagination. What happens when we stop trying to “get it right” and instead allow the coaching conversation to unfold like a canvas?

A reflective and provocative exploration of humanity, creativity, and the courage to meet the unknown—together.

Chapters

02:30 – Where Art Meets Coaching
06:00 – Letting Go of the “Perfect Coach”
11:40 – Beyond Words: Expanding the Coaching Space
16:30 – Reclaiming Humanity in Coaching

Memorable Quotes

“It’s a space where expression meets inquiry—and creativity becomes a pathway of self-discovery.”
“If you stay only in the intellect, what doors are you closing?”
“Everything is information—if you’re willing to notice it.”
“When we try to be the perfect coach, we miss the whole story.”
“It’s not about creating your picture or their picture—it’s what emerges between you.”

Where Coaching Becomes Art

What else is there about cultivating trust and safety?

In this episode of PRIME SPACE, Elias Scultori, MCC [https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliasscultori/], explores the role of partnership in the International Coaching Federation [https://coachingfederation.org/] competency "Cultivates Trust and Safety."

The conversation turns toward a question that often remains implicit in coaching practice:
Who holds responsibility for trust and safety in the coaching relationship?

Rather than approaching safety as something the coach creates, this episode introduces the concept of Brave Space, originally developed by Dr. Brian Arao, ACC, and Kristi Clemens. From this perspective, trust, safety, and growth are not managed by the coach alone but emerge through shared responsibility.

The episode reflects on how discomfort, accountability, vulnerability, and action show up within that shared space—and how a coach’s presence may either invite or limit the client’s willingness to engage with them.

This is not a redefinition of trust and safety, but rather a closer look at how it is practiced.

Chapters

01:27 – The Overlooked Competency: Trust & Safety Revisited
03:49 – Why We Can’t Make Clients Feel Safe
05:16 – From Safe Space to Brave Space
07:03 – Key Traits: Discomfort, Ownership, Vulnerability
10:50 – Brave Space as a Catalyst for Action & Transformation
11:56 – A Poetic Invitation to Brave Space

Memorable Quotes

 * “We cannot make anyone feel safe—safety is the other person’s choice.”
 * “Brave space welcomes discomfort because growth doesn’t happen in comfort.”
 * “Are we creating value… or taking away the client’s ownership?”
 * “Our vulnerability is an invitation for the client to be fully human.”
 * “Transformation begins the moment we stop protecting comfort and start inviting courage.”

Links to Episode 59: "The Overlooked Competency"
YouTube [https://youtu.be/8gqnLC0F2po?si=WNq_fO7_522LqGWm] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/4MIqTmIEEe1LUCoHoOd7M8?si=dsCISEfBTSuAdhiY8ETKzA] | Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prime-space/id1745563681?i=1000730394022]

Brave Space

The most important shift isn't easy...

In this episode of PRIME SPACE: Advanced Conversations in Coaching, Elias Scultori, MCC [https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliasscultori/], explores what may be the hardest—and most essential—skill in coaching: the capacity to set aside our own perspective and truly step into our client’s world.

Drawing on a powerful personal experience visiting the ancient Mayan city of Uxmal in Mexico, Elias invites coaches to reflect on humility, curiosity, and the courage required to let go of attachment to our own beliefs, insights, and “brilliance.” Because coaching doesn’t happen when we bring more of ourselves into the space. It happens when we create space for the client to fully exist within it.

This episode challenges even the most experienced coaches to confront a subtle but critical question: Are you truly serving the client—or unconsciously centering yourself?

Memorable Quotes

 * “We live inside our minds—and mistake it for reality.”
 * “Coaching is a humbling and courageous experience.”
 * “Curiosity is the fuel of coaching.”
 * “You are not the center of the session—you are a guest in someone else’s world.”

Chapters

01:28 – A Lesson from the Mayan World
03:28 – The Illusion of Our Own Perspective
06:03 – When the Coach Takes Over
08:32 – Cultivating Humility and Curiosity
11:02 – Letting the Client Take Center Stage

Why This Episode Matters

In a world increasingly driven by opinion, identity, and certainty, coaching calls for something radically different: the discipline to listen beyond ourselves. This episode is a deep invitation to refine your presence, expand your awareness, and elevate your impact as a coach.

Subscribe for more advanced conversations in coaching that challenge assumptions, deepen your craft, and expand what’s possible in the coaching space.

#Coaching #LifeCoaching #ExecutiveCoaching #CoachingSkills #ICFCoaching #LeadershipDevelopment #CoachingMindset #Curiosity #SelfAwareness #PRIMESPACE

The Hardest Skill

Is ICF Coaching real coaching?

In this episode of PRIME SPACE: Advanced Conversations in Coaching, Elias Scultori, MCC, [https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliasscultori/]explores a common tension in professional coaching today: the "rules" of coaching and the reality of our practices.

Many coaches feel overwhelmed by the structure of professional coaching—session agreements, open questions, avoiding advice, demonstrating competencies, preparing for certification. At times, it can feel like coaching requires carrying a mental checklist that conflicts with supporting the client.

But what if that understanding misses the deeper purpose?

Elias challenges the following rules myth and invites coaches to see competencies for what they truly are: best practices designed to serve the client, not constrain the coach. Using a powerful analogy from surgery, he explores how mastery enables coaches to move beyond rigid technique to thoughtful, moment-by-moment decision-making.

This episode is an invitation to move from legalism to discernment, from performing coaching to embodying it, and from rules to freedom in the coaching conversation.

If you’ve ever wondered whether ICF coaching is “real coaching,” this conversation goes straight to the heart of the question.

Memorable Quotes

 * “You cannot coach in a straitjacket.”
 * “The goal of the competencies is not rules for rules’ sake. The goal is the client.”
 * “Mastery is not using every tool. Mastery is knowing when to use the right one.”
 * “ICF coaching is real coaching—if we dare to understand it fully.”

Chapters

00:00 — The Weight of Coaching Rules
Why many coaches feel overwhelmed by competencies, certification requirements, and the pressure to “do coaching right.”

04:10 — There Are No Rules
Why the ICF Core Competencies are not rules, but best practices developed through research and collective professional experience.

07:49 — Finding Freedom
Why some coaches struggle with the rules and ways to find freedom in their practices.

12:01 — The Surgeon Analogy
How true excellence comes from understanding every tool deeply—and then making the best decision for the client in the moment.

#Coaching #ICFCoaching #CoachTraining #ProfessionalCoaching #CoachingMindset #CoachDevelopment #LeadershipCoaching

Competencies, Not Rules

Disruptive Thinker and advocate of the coaching mindset and framework.

Elias Scultori, MCC (@escultori) · Zencastr

Elias Scultori, MCC (@escultori)

PRIME SPACE | Advanced Conversations in Coaching is a podcast for professional coaches who are committed to deepening their coaching mindset, coaching presence, and coaching mastery. Hosted by Elias Scultori, MCC [https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliasscultori/], each episode explores the deeper layers of the coaching craft—where mindset, skill, presence, and humanity meet in real client conversations. PRIME SPACE brings together working professional coaches—from ACC to MCC—and thoughtful voices from across the coaching profession to explore what mastery in coaching truly looks like in practice. Through honest, reflective, and sometimes provocative dialogue, the show examines topics such as the true coaching mindset, the evolution of coaching skills beyond the ICF competencies, coach presence, and the ongoing development of professional coaches. If you are a trained coach, leadership coach, or coaching professional looking to stretch your thinking, refine your craft, and engage with the deeper questions shaping the future of coaching, welcome to PRIME SPACE.