What if the best way to be more human as a coach... is to use more AI?

In this episode, Rebecca is joined by David E. Cooley — Director of Alumni Career Services and Executive Coach at the UCLA Anderson School of Management, and founder of the David E. Cooley Executive Coaching Scholarship at NYU. David bridges two worlds: the strategic use of AI in coaching sessions, and the deeply human skill of showing up fully present for every client.

Together, they explore why applying to jobs online has become an "electronic black hole," how AI note-takers are actually making coaching conversations richer and more connected, and why the coaches who embrace AI will have a massive differentiator over those who don't.

They also unpack the gap between AI resistors and overconfident over-reliers, and what leaders really need to do to guide their teams through this change.

And then there's this — the thing that might matter most: when fear gets in the way, when imposter syndrome creeps in, when the overwhelm feels too big to push through... the answer is almost never "do more." It's to take the next small, meaningful step. Just one. That's it. Drawing on BJ Fogg's Tiny Habits and Carol Dweck's growth mindset, David makes a compelling case that starting small isn't settling — it's the whole strategy. The coaches who get this will move. The ones who wait for perfect readiness, won't.

Whether you're a coach, a leader, or just someone trying to figure out where you fit in an AI-powered world — this conversation will leave you with both permission and a plan.

What you'll take away:

• Why AI note-takers amplify the humanity in coaching sessions
• The "electronic black hole" of online job applications — and what actually works instead
• Over-reliance vs. over-confidence: the AI gap David sees every day
• What skills leaders and coaches need most right now
• Why the next small, meaningful step is often all it takes to move through fear, imposter syndrome, and overwhelm
• Why "AI is here to stay — but so are we"

Links and resources mentioned in this episode:

• David on LinkedIn
• David's private coaching practice
• UCLA Anderson Alumni Career Services
  
• David E. Cooley Executive Coaching Scholarship at NYU

Find out more:

https://vivalacoaching.com/vivapodcast/

What happens when a room full of coaches, researchers, and tech innovators gathers in New York — and the biggest question isn't about AI, but about coaching itself?

In this special Guardians LIVE episode, Rebecca and Viva la Coaching community members who attended the 5th Annual NYU Coaching & Technology Summit reflect on what stayed with them, what made them uncomfortable, and what the coaching profession still needs to confront. From the growing call for government regulation to the "tear it all down" energy in a packed breakout session, this is an honest, unfiltered debrief from people who were in the room.

Together, they explore the maturation of AI in coaching — now normalized, no longer frightening — and what that means for the profession's identity. They discuss blended coaching models, the power of wearables in health coaching, and why the era of the session as the center of coaching may be coming to an end. The episode closes on a hopeful note: that coaching skills — reimagined, broadened, and freed from their rigid definitions — could become one of the most essential human competencies of our time.

Viva la humans.

Find out more:

https://vivalacoaching.com/vivapodcast/

Join Rebecca as she sits down with Neal Sundberg (Director of Care Programs at Brightline) and Nicholas Wooters (Co-Founder of Coya) during a Webinar for a deeply personal conversation about thriving as a leader both at work and at home. Discover how wearable technology paired with health coaching creates powerful insights for managing stress, setting boundaries, and showing up fully in every role. This special request episode explores why self-care isn't selfish, it's essential modeling for your children and the foundation of sustainable high performance.

What you'll take away:

• A new frame for "putting yourself first" — it's not selfish, it's the foundation. Neal and Nicholas break down why your own wellbeing is the most powerful investment you can make as a parent, leader, and human.

• The truth about modeling — your kids (and your team) are always watching. Not just what you say, but how you treat yourself. This episode will make you look at your everyday habits with fresh eyes.

• A challenge to your "someday" thinking — we talk about growing, resting, investing in ourselves... but always later. This conversation will give you the nudge (and the permission) to start now.

• The ripple effect of coaching — how the work you do on yourself doesn't stay with you. It touches the people you raise, lead, and love. That's the real ROI of this work.

• Practical perspective on what integrated wellness actually looks like — drawing from both behavioral health and coaching, Neal and Nicholas paint a picture of what it means to truly thrive, not just cope.

Links and resources mentioned in this episode:

• Brightline - Pediatric behavioral health company
• Coya - Wearable technology + coaching platform
• Oura Ring - Wearable device for sleep and recovery tracking
• Headspace - Mental Health Coaching

Find out more:

https://vivalacoaching.com/vivapodcast/