Our lives are not the movies.

When sudden, unpredictable events like family hardships or natural disasters strike, it can feel like we’re living in one. But more often, the changes in our stories are subtle.

The turmoil is internal, and we’re left to wrestle with our challenges quietly, on our own.

Today’s guest is no stranger to this real-life push and pull. She knows what it’s like to juggle the expectations of motherhood, navigate life transitions, and manage the chaos that comes with it all. Dr. Emma Laird, PT, DPT, OCS is a board-certified physical therapist at Pro Kinetix in Oakland, California, specializing in orthopedic care. She earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from MGH Institute of Health Professions and is a certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist. Emma brings a holistic approach to helping her clients return to their favorite activities while promoting lifelong movement health. A Bay Area native, Emma is passionate about sports and strength training, values she learned early on from her active upbringing. When she's not working, she enjoys spending time with her fiancé, their dog, exploring local breweries, and staying active outdoors.

Today’s show is a real-world conversation on topics such as:

• Maintaining a healthy connection with your partner during a season of change
• The myth of our “best self” and how optimal is fluid
• Managing internal and external pressures on your career during family changes
• Redefining success and recalibrating your goals to align with your new life path
• The power of showing up consistently as your authentic, imperfect self

We want to thank Emma for joining us! If you’re in the Oakland, CA area and need help recovering from an injury, visit her and her team at Pro Kinetix. You can also find her in our Art Of Coaching universe facilitating one of our live events and online in our digital community.

The Apprenticeship - Bottom line, this is for anyone who coaches, mentors, or helps others in any capacity. It’s for leaders who aren’t just talking about personal growth but are ready for a different type of challenge. Our live leadership training workshop goes beyond the usual clichés. No cheesy trust falls or empty motivational speeches. We dive into the real skills you wish you’d learned earlier in life: navigating tough conversations, handling difficult people, managing power dynamics, and driving real change.

If you deal with people-problems at all, are in a leadership position, or want to step into one—and if you're ready to turn personal growth from lip service into real commitment, THIS EVENT IS FOR YOU! Check out our entire 2025 live event schedule for the best date and location for you!

Related Episodes:

E313 | How to Communicate With Someone Who Shuts Down and Stonewalls

E339 | Scott and Jamie Livingston: Overcoming Challenges In Relationships

We’ve all heard the motivational phrase, “Failure isn’t an option.” It sounds inspiring, but is it really true?

Failure, in reality, is an option—often chosen in the form of inaction, silence, or the unwillingness to engage. How many times have you held back an idea, avoided speaking up, or let a moment pass because of the fear of judgment? Playing it safe is extremely tragic.

In today’s episode, we’re diving into the cost of silence and the hidden price we pay by not putting ourselves out there. What’s really stopping us from stepping forward? And what can we do to shift from apprehension to action?

In this tough love episode, Brett takes the gloves off and gets real about:

• The evolutionary roots behind our fear of rejection
• How our ego is the true source behind our hesitation to engage
• Criticism, its inevitability, and how to turn it into data
• Harnessing pride as a shield to protect against self-devaluation
• Navigating the fear of success versus the fear of failure

Referenced Episodes:

E259 | Understanding and Overcoming Perfectionism

E105 | Overcoming Imposter Phenomenon

Recommended Resources:

Imposter Phenomenon Manual: If you struggle with imposter phenomenon, we created a free manual that many people have found to be super-helpful. It’s become one of our most downloaded resources, check it out!

Podcast Reflections: Did you know that we create worksheets to help you apply the lessons for each episode? To receive full access to all the reflections from previous and future episodes, click here.

Mighty Networks Digital Community: If you’d like to test your ideas with Brett and our Facilitators, while connecting with like-minded individuals, consider joining our private digital community! For just $19.99/month (with free cancellation anytime), you’ll enhance your communication, leadership, and relationship skills. Don’t miss out—join us today!

If you’d like to become more confident in front of a group and learn how to deliver a more potent message, Speaker School is the perfect event for you! Whether you’re someone who needs to overcome the debilitating effect of social anxiety, or you’re a well-practiced TED presenter, this is the perfect place to get some heads-down time to focus and improve, no matter where you are in your journey. This live 2 day experience not only gives you the knowledge you need to create a logical and clear presentation, but provides you with a safe environment to fail, filled with people who want you to succeed and who will give you the feedback and encouragement you need to improve. Join us in Phoenix, AZ on October 12-13th! THIS IS OUR LAST CALL. SECURE YOUR SPOT BEFORE IT CLOSES!

Today’s episode is sponsored by our lifelong partner Momentous. You need to pay attention to what you put in your body. For safety and performance, it’s crucial to follow three key principles: stick to what works, choose products that are rigorously tested, and rely on those rooted in science. Momentus products are NSF Certified for Sport, meaning they meet the highest quality control standards—the same required of athletes competing in the Olympics. We particularly love their whey protein, creatine, and fish oil. Visit livemomentus.com and enter the code BRETT15 at checkout to save 15% on anything found on their website. Don’t compromise when it comes to your supplements. Stick to the basics, choose what’s been tested, and trust what’s proven.

Why would someone hold on to a false or inaccurate belief even when you’ve laid out all the facts and logic in front of them? You couldn’t have been more clear in presenting your argument!

Your reasoning is solid, but maybe it’s not the absence of evidence that’s preventing them from changing their perspective—it might be the way the information was delivered...

Today’s show is one of our keystone episodes, unlocking why constructive communication often fails to get off the ground. Brett is joined by Ali Kershner in-studio for a deep dive into the tactics that will help you get your point across more effectively and give you the best chance to change someone’s behavior.

Grab a pen and download the reflection questions because this episode is hands-on and loaded with tactical information and strategies you can implement at work, home and anywhere you deal with people.

You'll learn:

• How to identify the areas you’re stubborn in and need to change
• The different types of persuasion and the impact of each
• How time can impact a person's decision making
• Gaining perspective through role playing
• The tactics and strategies behind our popular online courses and in person events that you can use to relate to the drive of the individual you are trying to convince

IF YOU’VE BEEN WAITING, THE TIME IS NOW - If you know you aren’t as good as you could be when speaking to an audience, it’s time to step up and make a change. Speaker School is the ideal place to get better in front of people, regardless of the situation. This live 2 day experience not only gives you the knowledge you need to create a logical and clear presentation, but provides you with a safe environment to fail, filled with people who want you to succeed and who will give you the feedback and encouragement you need to improve. Join us in Phoenix, AZ on October 12-13th!. THIS IS OUR LAST CALL, SECURE YOUR SPOT BEFORE IT CLOSES!

THE COALITION - We’re all busy, but we still strive to grow. How do you truly measure progress? It can be a tough pill to swallow, but it’s worth remembering: intentions mean nothing without action. If you need help distinguishing between what’s urgent and what truly matters in your brand or business, then THE COALITION is for you. Think of it as your personal board of advisors—no BS, just a clear framework to help you start taking action. It's virtual, so it fits easily into your schedule, and includes a retreat to a fun location! If you're tired of the excuses and ready to act on your dreams of more, fill out this form, or reach out to us at info@artofcoaching.com and our team will be in touch.

It’s the holy grail of mental health and wellness for many people. Almost all of us, at one point or another, have chased the elusive 'work-life balance,' hoping to find the perfect harmony between our careers and personal lives.

But is 'balance' really the right word? Perhaps it’s a misnomer that oversimplifies the complexity of juggling work and family.

Today’s topic arose from a conversation between Brett and several of our facilitators about the push and pull that occurs between career and family. It’s a concept we all struggle with in some capacity, and in this episode, we’ll share insights from that discussion along with practical strategies for managing the demands of work and family.

Tune in as we get real on a this common struggle, as we explore:

• The misnomer of “balance” and how to define it for yourself
• How guilt influences decisions in your professional life
• Realigning your goals to reflect what truly matters
• How to recognize if the obstacle in your was is YOU - and what to do about it

Put Us On Blast: We want to hear your thoughts! Let us know by reaching out to us on social media or shooting us an email at info@artofcoaching.com. We want to add more value to our audience above everything else. We love feedback and want to know how we can help YOU.

Mighty Networks Digital Community: Want to join conversations like the one we had today and interact directly with Brett and our Facilitators? Join our digital community and connect with like-minded people dedicated to personal growth. For just $19.99/month (with free cancellation anytime), you’ll elevate your communication, leadership, and relationship skills. Don’t miss out— Join us today!

Subscribe & Support: If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe to the Art of Coaching Podcast on your favorite platform. Share it with a friend, and leave us a review—it helps the show grow!

Follow Us:

Website: ArtofCoaching.com

Instagram: @coach_brettb

Twitter: @coach_brettb

SPEAKER SCHOOL IS ALMOST HERE - Is there a message stuck in your head that you know needs to get out into the world? Maybe you’d just like to get better in front of your coworkers at weekly staff meetings. Either way, Speaker School is the ideal place to get better in front of people, regardless of the situation. This live 2 day experience not only gives you the knowledge you need to create a logical and clear presentation, but provides you with a safe environment to fail, filled with people who want you to succeed and who will give you the feedback and encouragement you need to improve. Join us in Phoenix, AZ on October 12-13th!. THIS IS OUR LAST CALL, SECURE YOUR SPOT BEFORE IT CLOSES!

Recommended Resource:

Take our Drives Quiz!

Am I a bad person? Nike’s latest ad asks this question, and the internet erupted in response. But is the real issue the ad, or what it reveals about our relationship with competition and ambition?

In this episode, Brett Bartholomew delves into the controversy surrounding Nike's recent ad, featuring Willem Dafoe’s voice and a striking depiction of athletes at their most intense. While some argue the ad promotes toxic values in sports, Brett explores the nuance behind it, offering his insights as a coach, parent, and former athlete. He dissects why the ad has sparked such strong reactions and what it says about our society’s discomfort with the more competitive, driven side of human nature.

Topics Discussed:

1. The controversy surrounding the Nike ad and Willem Dafoe's voiceover.
2. The depiction of athletes and the "dark side" of competition.
3. The difference between respecting opponents and being hyper-competitive.
4. The role of parents in shaping their children’s behavior.
5. How societal issues, such as mental health and polarized reactions, influence public perception of media.
6. Brett’s personal experiences with athletes and how they balance intensity with ethics.

Resources Mentioned:

• Take our Drives Quiz!
• Nike Ad featuring Willem Dafoe
• Carl Jung’s concept of the "shadow" in psychology
• Stephen King’s “Legion of Decency” reference

Join the Discussion: We want to hear your thoughts! Did the Nike ad strike a chord with you? Do you agree with Brett's take? Let us know by reaching out to us on social media or leaving a comment on our website.

Subscribe & Support: If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe to the Art of Coaching Podcast on your favorite platform. Share it with a friend, and leave us a review—it helps the show grow!

Follow Us:

Website: ArtofCoaching.com

Instagram: @coach_brettb

Twitter: @coach_brettb

Speaker School - Warren Buffet has said that Public Speaking is the “single greatest skill to boost your career and self worth, and is an asset that will last for 50 to 60 years.” It also happens to be most people’s biggest fear, which Buffet said if unaddressed “will also last you 50 to 60 years.” At Speaker School we help those who need to slay their inner imposter, who would just like to get better at running staff meetings at work, to those who would like to get paid to deliver keynotes. We’re holding one more Speaker School before the end of the year in Phoenix, AZ October 12-13. Take advantage of our EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT AND SAVE UP TO $200! Hurry though, the deal expires September 11th! Click here to reserve your spot. This is one of our most popular live events and fills up fast. We limit the number of participants to make sure you get the practice and feedback you deserve. See you there!