754. Coaching Clients To Shift from Fear to Wisdom - With Shirzad Chamine

754. Coaching Clients To Shift from Fear to Wisdom - With Shirzad Chamine

Author: Mark Walsh February 3, 2026 Duration: 1:00:58

I'm joined by Shirzad Chamine, creator of Positive Intelligence, to explore what it really means to learn in difficult times. We talk about fear-based "saboteur" patterns, why toxic positivity makes things worse, and how negative emotions can be useful signals rather than flaws to suppress.

We look at trauma as something all humans experience on a spectrum, how post-traumatic growth actually works, and why compassion must come before reframing. We also explore religion, secular belief systems, technology, political polarisation, and why both faith and rationality get hijacked by fear when we're not paying attention.

This is a wide-ranging conversation about learning to lead — ourselves and others — from love rather than fear, especially in a fractured world.

Read more about Shirzad's work here: positiveintelligence.com

-----------------------------------------------

Shirzad is a New York Times bestselling author of Positive Intelligence, translated into 20 languages.  He has been CEO of the largest coach training organization in the world, has trained more than 100,000 coaches, and trained faculty at Stanford and Yale business schools. Shirzad lectures on Positive Intelligence at Stanford University.  His Saboteur Assessment has been used by more than 2 million people and a majority of Fortune 100 companies. A preeminent C-suite advisor, Shirzad has coached hundreds of CEOs and their executive teams.  He holds a BA in psychology, an MS in electrical engineering, and an MBA from Stanford.

-----------------------------------------------

Become a certified embodiment coach. Coach beyond mere words and support clients to transform their lives:
https://embodimentunlimited.com/cec/

-----------------------------------------------

Join our membership program for coaches, facilitators, therapists and educators who want sustainable growth:
https://embodimentunlimited.com/flourish/

-----------------------------------------------

Check out our YouTube channel for more coaching tips and our Podcast channel for full episode videos

Uplevel your coaching with a free copy of Mark's latest eBook, The Top 12 Embodiment Coaching Techniques 

Join Mark for those juicy in-person workshops and events

Fancy some free coaching demo sessions with Mark

Connect with Mark Walsh on Instagram 


For seven years, The Embodiment Coaching Podcast has been a gathering place for a curious community. Host Mark Walsh sits down each week with pioneering thinkers and practitioners from across the globe, exploring the profound intelligence of the human system. While it’s essential listening for coaches and embodiment teachers, this series truly speaks to anyone who senses the body is far more than just a vehicle for the brain. Conversations flow naturally through a rich landscape of topics-from the practicalities of coaching and the subtlet of somatics to the grounded wisdom found in martial arts, yoga, and various movement practices. You’ll also find deep dives into mindfulness, meditation, and trauma-informed approaches, all discussed with a light-hearted and accessible tone. The focus remains on tangible, real-world application, stripping away unnecessary jargon. Tuning into this podcast feels like joining a thoughtful, ongoing dialogue where theory meets practice, offering insights you can feel in your bones and apply in your daily life. Mark’s genuine curiosity and the diverse range of guests ensure that every episode brings a fresh perspective on what it means to live fully in our skin.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Embodiment Coaching Podcast
Podcast Episodes
771.  Why coaches need shadow work -with Lucija Glagolic Hora [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:30
In this episode, I speak with Lucija Glagolic Hora about coaching, shadow work, archetypes, and the role of hardship in human development. We explore how suffering, trauma, and uncertainty can deepen our humanity, why co…
770.  Staying Human in the Age of AI - With Margaret Moore [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:47
In this episode, I speak with Margaret Moore about coaching, consciousness, leadership, and the impact of AI on human development. We explore what makes a great coach, why real coaching goes beyond techniques and framewo…
768. The Coaching Skill Nobody Wants to Practice - With Sean Fargo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:53
In this episode, I speak with former Buddhist monk and mindfulness teacher Sean Fargo about the changing role of mindfulness in coaching, therapy, and modern culture. We explore why mindfulness went from being widely cel…