COACHED with Coach Keren

In this very special episode of Coached, host Coach Keren Eldad shares something she's never done before: the complete first chapter of her brand new book, Gilt Free: Ditching Your Gilded Cage for Good.This isn't a summary. This isn't a teaser clip. This is the real beginning.Chapter 1, "Debunking the Great Folly," is the moment where everything starts to shift - where we finally tell the truth about what isn't working and begin to understand why. If you've ever felt the quiet friction of a life that looks successful on paper but doesn't quite feel like yours, this chapter was written for you.In This EpisodeThe Gilded Cage revisited - Keren's first book, GILDED, named the phenomenon: a life that looks good but doesn't feel good – and was about breaking free of that “gilded cage” resulting from a life of Ambition, Perfectionism and a Relentless Pursuit. Gilt Free answers the harder question: how do you actually STAY out?Chapter 1 in full - "Debunking the Great Folly," read by Coach Keren, unedited and unabridgedThe questions at the heart of this work:Why do I stop circling the same patterns, even when I "know better"?How do I begin to identify what is happening – so I can stop rebuilding shinier versions of the same cage?Why should I aim at building a life that not only looks good - but feels genuine? What’s the payoff?About the BookGilt Free: Ditching Your Gilded Cage for Good is Coach Keren Eldad's second book - and a direct answer to the question her highest-performing clients have been asking for years.It's not about insight alone. It's about transformation: releasing the patterns, identities, and attachments that keep you circling — and stepping into a way of operating that is grounded, open, alive, and deeply self-trusting.📖 Available now on Amazon and wherever books are sold. Find it here → Gilt Free: Ditching Your Gilded Cage for Good. Book a Free Consult With Coach KerenReady to take this work even further? Book a complimentary 30-minute consultation — just you, just Keren.📅 Book your session → calendly.com/KerenEldadDon't Miss an EpisodeSubscribe to Coached on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review if today's episode resonated with you.Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coached-with-coach-keren/id1467079024YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kereneldad2960Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/770Q1dwdX3CsTvTEziX3AlCoached is hosted by Coach Keren Eldad. New episodes drop each week.

What if the patterns you keep trying to escape are patterns some unconscious part of you is still invested in?In this provocative and deeply philosophical episode of Coached with Coach Keren, Coach Keren Eldad sits down with Carolyn Elliott for a conversation about shadow work, suffering, individuation, spirituality, power, and the unconscious pleasures hidden beneath human behavior.Carolyn - bestselling author of Existential Kink and founder of Immortal College - shares the personal experiences that led her to develop one of the most confronting frameworks in modern personal development: the idea that we may unconsciously derive pleasure from the very situations we consciously reject.Together, Keren and Carolyn explore the relationship between shadow integration and freedom, why high achievers often remain trapped in repetitive cycles, and how true transformation begins when we stop performing healing and start telling the truth.In this episode:What “existential kink” actually meansWhy the unconscious creates recurring life patternsThe hidden pleasure inside suffering, struggle, and martyrdomCarolyn’s journey through addiction, recovery, and depth psychologyWhy many people use spirituality as another achievement identityThe difference between performative healing and true integrationThe role of humility, groundedness, and honesty in real growthThe connection between suffering and awakeningThe danger of bypassing discomfort in coaching and personal growthWhy freedom often begins by embracing the parts of ourselves we fear mostMentioned in the episode:Existential Kink by Carolyn ElliottAwaken Your Genius by Carolyn ElliottAnswer to Job by Carl G JungThe Way of Integrity by Martha BeckKabbalah (Kabbalah.com), individuation, and mystical ChristianityConnect with Carolyn Elliott:ExistentialKink.comImmortal CollegeIf this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who is ready to stop running from themselves — and start becoming whole.Mentioned in this episode:Book a Call

This episode is not going to just inspire you. It is going to initiate you.Amberly Lago was a professional dancer, fitness instructor, and fitness model living her California dream when a single motorcycle accident in May 2010 shattered everything. What followed was 34 major surgeries, a 1% chance of keeping her leg, a diagnosis of complex regional pain syndrome — an incurable neurological condition of relentless pain — and eventually, a quiet spiral into alcoholism that she hid from her husband, her clients, and herself.She didn't choose this work. She was dismantled into it. And what she built on the other side — a life, a message, and a body of work centered on joy, resilience, and radical self-acceptance — is the kind of testimony that changes people.This one is for everyone who has lost an identity, a body, a marriage, a belief system, or a version of themselves they thought they were forever — and who is ready to face the realest question life can ask: who do you become when the thing that defines you is gone?KEY TAKEAWAYSAcceptance is not the end — it's the beginning. Amberly spent years in denial, anger, hiding her scars under knee-high boots in 100-degree LA heat. The turning point came when her surgeon held her leg in his lap like a masterpiece. If he could see it that way, maybe she could too. That reframe changed everything. Acceptance is where all transformation starts.Grit without grace is just resistance. High achievers are often experts at powering through — until their bodies stop them. True grit isn't white-knuckling your way forward. It requires the give of grace, the softness of self-compassion, and the wisdom to know when pushing harder is actually the problem.The inner work is harder than the surgeries. Amberly underwent 34 major procedures. She'll tell you that wasn't the hardest part. The hardest part was looking inward — at unprocessed trauma, at shame, at the addiction she'd used to numb a pain that couldn't be outrun. Pain demands to be heard. It will find a way out — through the way we love, the way we lead, the things we can't stop reaching for.Numbing comes in many forms. Alcohol. Workaholism. Scrolling. Overexercise. Sex. You don't have to have your life fall apart to be avoiding yourself. If you can't stop reaching for something when things get hard, ask what you're not letting yourself feel. All craving comes from a self that is incomplete. Wholeness is the antidote.Connection is the opposite of addiction. Asking for help saved Amberly's life. So did showing up — to meetings she didn't feel like attending, to communities that held her when she couldn't hold herself. Grit with connection is resilience. Grit without connection is just more suffering.Resilience is not bouncing back. It's embracing the change. The old version of you is gone. Resilience doesn't mean returning to it — it means asking: what brings me joy now? What do I love? And building from that place, even if you have no idea how.Three things for anyone whose old life no longer fits: give yourself grace, drop the comparison (it is the thief of joy), and guard your company fiercely. Stick with the puppy uppers. Let go of the doggy downers — even if it's uncomfortable, even if they're upset. The integrity of your inner circle is everything.You are a walking permission slip. When you show your scars — literally or metaphorically — you give everyone around you permission to do the same. That is not a small thing. That is the whole thing.MOMENTS FROM THE CONVERSATION"Grit without connection is resistance. Grit with connection is where you find resilience — and asking for help saved my life." — Amberly Lago"Pain pushed me until purpose pulled me." — Amberly Lago"Acceptance is the beginning of any transformation." — Amberly Lago"God takes away what we're wrapping our identity around so that we can learn how to really, truly walk." — Coach Keren EldadLEARN MORE ABOUT AMBERLY LAGO📖 Joy Through the Journey → https://www.amazon.com/Joy-Through-Journey-Amberly-Lago/dp/1394265549 📖 True Grit and True Grace → https://www.amazon.com/True-Grit-Grace-Turning-Tragedy/dp/1683506235 🤝 Work with Amberly → https://amberlylago.com/ 📸 Follow Amberly → @AmberlyLago https://www.instagram.com/amberlylagomotivationLEARN MORE ABOUT COACH KERENCoaching → KerenEldad.comBook → Buy GILDED / The Gilded Journal on AmazonBook → Order Gilt Free — Amazon link coming soonAudiobook → Get Gilt Free FREE on Audiobook/Spotify — link coming soonIf this conversation moved you — and we suspect it did — please share it with someone who needs it. And if you're not yet subscribed, now is the moment. A review on Apple takes sixty seconds and helps more people find their way to conversations like this one.Subscribe & review on Apple → Coached with Coach KerenFollow on Spotify → Coached with Coach KerenMentioned in this episode:Book a Call

What if your money wasn’t just something you earned… but something you directed?In this episode of Coached, Keren sits down with Eva Yazhari—CEO of Beyond Capital Ventures and author of The Good Your Money Can Do—to explore the true power of capital.Eva’s work sits at the intersection of investing, purpose, and global impact. Through Beyond Capital, she has helped deploy millions into companies solving real-world problems—proving that profit and purpose are not at odds, but deeply aligned.But this conversation goes far beyond finance.It’s about your relationship with money.Because whether you realize it or not, every dollar you spend, invest, or save is a vote—for the kind of world you want to live in.Together, Keren and Eva explore how to move from passive consumption to intentional allocation—and how redefining wealth can fundamentally change not just your life, but the lives of others.This is not just a conversation about money.It’s a conversation about responsibility, agency, and the legacy you’re already creating.What We Cover:What impact investing really means (and why it matters now) The myth that profit and purpose are in conflict How capital can be a force for systemic change Rethinking your role as an investor—even if you don’t identify as one Everyday decisions as financial “votes” Building Beyond Capital Ventures and investing in emerging markets The responsibility that comes with access and privilege Why women are uniquely positioned to lead in impact investing The emotional and psychological relationship we have with money How to align your spending and investing with your values Legacy—not as something in the future, but something you are building now Key Takeaways:Money is not neutral—it is a tool that amplifies intention.Every dollar you spend or invest is a vote for the world you want to create.You are already an investor, whether you realize it or not.Profit and purpose are not mutually exclusive—they can reinforce each other.Wealth is not just accumulation—it is allocation.Access comes with responsibility.The question is not “Do I have enough to make a difference?”It’s “What am I already influencing with what I have?”Legacy is not what you leave behind—it’s what you build every day.About the Guest:Eva Yazhari is the CEO of Beyond Capital Ventures, an impact investment firm that funds mission-driven companies in emerging markets focused on solving critical global challenges.She is also the author of The Good Your Money Can Do, a practical and inspiring guide to aligning your financial decisions with your values and using money as a force for good. The book features a foreword by Coach Keren Eldad.Through her work, Eva is redefining what it means to be wealthy—not just in financial terms, but in impact, intention, and contribution.Connect with Eva:Beyond Capital Ventures: https://www.beyondcapitalventures.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyondcapLearn more about Eva’s book:https://www.thegoodyourmoneycando.com/Mentioned in this episode:Book a Call

What happens when the life that looks right stops feeling right?In this powerful Coaching Masters conversation, Keren sits down with Dr. Bethany Weinheimer—veterinarian, coach, and founder of Evolved Vets—to explore the journey from perfectionism and burnout to alignment, love, and purpose.Raised on a Texas farm and shaped by a culture of service, discipline, and achievement, Bethany followed the “right” path all the way to veterinary leadership—only to find herself exhausted, disconnected, and quietly unfulfilled.What followed was not a pivot—but a profound unraveling.Through inner work, coaching, and radical self-honesty, Bethany shed the identities that once defined her—the fixer, the performer, the perfect one—and stepped into a new way of living, leading, and loving.This episode is about:The hidden cost of high performance Why burnout is self-abandonment, not weakness The death of the “perfect” identity The difference between performing strength and embodying it And what becomes possible when you finally choose yourself If you’ve built a life that works… but doesn’t quite feel like you—this conversation will meet you exactly where you are.What We CoverGrowing up in a high-performance, service-driven environment The “checklist identity” and perfectionism trap Panic attacks, burnout, and emotional suppression Relationship patterns and self-abandonment The turning point: asking for help Coaching as “voluntary identity death” Shedding the fixer and people-pleaser roles Rewiring thought patterns (CBT, NLP, inner work) The shift from lack → abundance Manifesting love from alignment (not effort) Discovering your Zone of Genius Building a purpose-driven platform: Evolved Vets Key Takeaways1. Burnout is not about workload—it’s about self-abandonment.It’s the accumulation of moments where you choose performance over truth.2. You cannot outperform misalignment.Effort is not the gateway—energy is.3. Coaching requires letting your old identity die.Growth is not additive—it’s subtractive.4. The “fixer” identity leads to exhaustion, not leadership.Rescuing others disconnects you from yourself.5. Abundance means no exceptions.You cannot claim abundance while speaking lack.6. Your body always knows before your mind admits it.Pay attention to where it says “no”… and where it lights up.7. Success is no longer how you’re perceived—it’s how you feel.About the GuestDr. Bethany Weinheimer is a veterinarian, coach, and founder of Evolved Vets, a platform helping high-performing veterinarians move from burnout and self-abandonment into alignment, purpose, and flow.Through a blend of neuroscience, coaching, and inner work, she supports healers in reclaiming their energy—and building lives that feel as good as they look.Website: https://www.evolvedvets.com/Connect with BethanyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/evolvedvets/ Podcast: The Evolved Vets https://open.spotify.com/show/6q4ewIBRnOxyK57vHUBmL0?si=8954a5e3498b4545YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EvolvedVetsSubscribe & ShareIf this episode resonated, share it with someone who needs it—and don’t forget to subscribe to Coached for more conversations on mastery, transformation, and living with enthusiasm.Mentioned in this episode:Book a Call

In an industry flooded with big promises and bigger personalities, how do you tell the difference between a serious teacher and a charismatic charlatan?In this special episode of The Coached Podcast, Coach Keren Eldad sits down with journalist Ryan Krogh — who also happens to be her husband — to explore the standards behind the spotlight.From years of interviewing scientists, executives, public figures, and thought leaders, Ryan shares the simplest litmus test for depth versus performance:Watch what happens in the Q&A.Can they think in real time?Can they handle nuance?Can they go beyond headlines?Or are they repeating something rehearsed?From there, the conversation moves deeper — into integrity in business, the psychological cost of standards, what coaching does not promise, the difference between fixing your life and fixing your thinking, and what it actually takes to live alongside this work in marriage.They also discuss:Why integrity costs you in the short term — and pays you in the long termThe responsibility of teaching inner workWhat this industry underestimatesWhat coaching truly offers (and what it doesn’t)AI, disruption, and why humanity may matter more than everThis is not an episode about inspiration.It’s an episode about discernment.Coached Show Disclaimer:The views and opinions expressed by guests on this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Coach Keren or With Enthusiasm. Nothing shared should be taken as an endorsement of specific advice, teachings, or opinions. This series is intended to showcase a range of teaching styles and business methodologies for educational and informational purposes only.Mentioned in this episode:Book a Call

In this Coaching Masters conversation, Coach Keren Eldad sits down with longtime private client Billy Goldberg to explore a central question:Where do real leadership insights come from?Billy now advises middle-market CEOs and leads through a framework he calls People Powered Profitability. But in this episode, we trace the source of those insights — back to his years inside coaching.This is not a conversation about business tactics.It is a conversation about how identity work, agency, ego death, and internal authorship shaped the way Billy now thinks, leads, and builds.If you have ever wondered what coaching actually produces in a leader — this episode answers that question.What We ExploreAgency as the foundation of leadership.Billy shares how the breakthrough realization — “I have agency” — became the cornerstone of every decision he now helps CEOs make.Redefining success internally.Before coaching, success was external validation.After coaching, success became self-authored alignment — which now informs how he advises executives.Identity death as a leadership requirement.Letting the “boy” identity die so adult leadership could emerge — and how that internal shift now shapes how he challenges his clients.Soft skills as performance drivers.The heart-centered leadership Billy teaches today grew directly from inner work around vulnerability, authorship, and embodied power.The mountain range metaphor.The nonlinear growth model he now uses with CEOs was born from his own coaching journey: descent precedes ascent.Teachable authority.Why staying coachable is the true differentiator between performed power and embodied leadership.Series: Coaching MastersGuest: Billy Goldberg — longtime private client of Coach Keren Eldad, Founding Partner of The Buckeye Group, Strategic Advisor to Middle Market CEOsMemorable Quotes“We have agency. We control the narrative.”“Soft skills are the hard skills.”“You can’t reach the next peak unless you go down and climb back up.”“Use love as a business strategy.”Resources MentionedYou Are a Badass — Jen SinceroConnect with BillyThe Buckeye Grouphttps://www.thebuckeyegroup.com/Ready to Go Deeper?Billy’s leadership framework did not come from a book.It came from doing the work.If you are building something and want your leadership to be embodied — not performed — that is exactly what we do inside coaching.Book a Clarity Call:https://calendly.com/kereneldadLearn more:https://www.KerenEldad.comMentioned in this episode:Book a Call

In today’s Coaching Masters episode, Coach Keren sits down with author, teacher, and sober-curious pioneer Amanda Kuda — a woman whose work is helping high achievers renegotiate their relationship with alcohol so they can step into their fullest potential, creativity, and spiritual clarity.Amanda is the author of Bottled Potential, a guide to living alcohol-free, manifesting success, and stepping into the extraordinary. Her story isn’t one of clinical addiction — it’s the story of a woman who looked successful on the outside, yet felt misaligned within. Her journey takes us from Rainy Street to Reiki masters, from manifestation to hitting subtle emotional rock bottoms, and eventually, to freedom.In this episode, we explore:✨ What “gray-area drinking” really looks like✨ Why you don’t have to hit bottom to make a change✨ How alcohol silently suppresses intuition, creativity & magnetism✨ The spiritual awakening that called Amanda forward✨ Why suffering and awakening often arrive as a pair✨ How a single permission slip can change a life✨ The power of teachers, expanders & aligned mentorship✨ How to choose a coach not by hype — but by resonance, integrity & soul✨ The courage to walk away from the glamorized version of your lifeThis is not a conversation about addiction — it’s a conversation about alignment, clarity, and self-trust. It’s about noticing what isn’t working, even when it looks fine from the outside. It’s about making decisions that expand your future, not numb your present. It’s about courage.And it’s a must-listen if you’ve ever wondered:“Who might I be without the habits that dull me?”About Amanda KudaAmanda is a coach, speaker, and the author of Bottled Potential. She supports high-achievers in becoming alcohol-free so they can elevate their vibration, manifestation capacity, and leadership. She is currently writing her second book (coming soon), and we will absolutely be having her back.Website: https://www.amandakuda.com/Follow Amanda: @amandakudaBook: Bottled PotentialListen, review & share if this resonates.There is someone in your world who needs this episode — send it.For more on Coach Keren Eldad, visit: www.KerenEldad.comGilded: Breaking Free from the Cage of Ambition, Perfectionism, and the Relentless Pursuit of More https://www.amazon.com/stores/Keren-Eldad/author/B0DS2TPZZL?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1769701903&sr=8-1&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=23640b76-56b4-4eee-92f3-dad614654269Coached Show Disclaimer:The views and opinions expressed by guests on this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Coach Keren or With Enthusiasm. Nothing shared should be taken as an endorsement of specific advice, teachings, or opinions. This series is intended to showcase a range of teaching styles and business methodologies for educational and informational purposes only.Mentioned in this episode:Book a Call

In this rich and expansive episode of The Coached Podcast, I continue our Coaching Masters series with someone whose work and worldview bridge creativity, consciousness, and the courage to reinvent oneself again and again. I sit down with Nick Onken—celebrated creative entrepreneur, portrait photographer to icons (including my beloved Beebs), host of the NION Radio podcast, and author of The Philosophy of Identity Alchemy—to explore the deeper spiritual and psychological journey behind personal branding, creativity, and becoming who you truly are.Book a call with Coach Keren: https://calendly.com/kereneldad/consultation?back=1Nick’s story is a masterclass in individuation. Raised in a conservative religious environment and cultivated inside belief systems that never quite fit, he describes the slow, seven-year process of disentangling himself from inherited identities that had been embedded in the subconscious since childhood—something Carl Jung wrote about powerfully, and something so many high achievers, creators, and leaders will recognize in their own story. From that unraveling came a path into the arts, travel, photography, and eventually a profound internal collapse that forced him into what he now recognizes as multiple “dark nights of the soul”—those initiatory periods where everything you thought you were disintegrates so a truer self can emerge.We talk about limiting beliefs, upper limits (thank you, Gay Hendricks), and the psychological fusion many of us experience between our identity and our work—especially in an era when industries are shifting overnight and reinvention is not a possibility but a mandate. We discuss the collapse of the commercial photography world, the arrival of social media, the shock of going from securing Nike-level campaigns to three years of crickets, and the ego death that followed.Most importantly, we explore the philosophy that grew from those ashes: Identity Alchemy—Nick’s framework for consciously deconstructing who you were, curating who you want to become, and creating a personal brand and life expression that is intentionally crafted rather than unconsciously inherited. His premise is simple and extraordinarily potent: your identity is your greatest work of art.We get into:How early religious conditioning can embed subconscious fears that sabotage adult self-expressionThe seven-year unraveling that led Nick out of inherited belief systems and into true creative agencyHow burnout, imposter syndrome, and industry shifts catalyze reinventionWhy personal brands are more essential than ever in the age of AIHow to consciously design your identity, your space, your aesthetic, and your creative expressionWhy reinvention is no longer optional—and how to pivot with enthusiasmThe magic thread that pulls all of us toward the next iteration of our becomingIf you are in a season of transition, reinvention, or re-evaluation—if you have ever wondered, “Who am I now?” or “What will I create next?”—this conversation will meet you exactly where you are.Enjoy this masterful, soulful dialogue and prepare to walk away with an entirely new lens for seeing your life as your most powerful creative medium.Links to Nick’s work:https://photographedbyonken.com/https://onkensworld.com/https://www.instagram.com/nickonken/Connect with Coach Keren:www.KerenEldad.comIf you love the Coaching Masters series, please subscribe, comment, and share.Your support helps us bring you the world’s best teachers every single week.Gilded: Breaking Free from the Cage of Ambition, Perfectionism, and the Relentless Pursuit of More https://www.amazon.com/stores/Keren-Eldad/author/B0DS2TPZZL?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1769701903&sr=8-1&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=23640b76-56b4-4eee-92f3-dad614654269Coached Show Disclaimer:The views and opinions expressed by guests on this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Coach Keren or With Enthusiasm. Nothing shared should be taken as an endorsement of specific advice, teachings, or opinions. This series is intended to showcase a range of teaching styles and business methodologies for educational and informational purposes only.Mentioned in this episode:Book a Call

In this Coaching Masters episode, we dive into one of my favorite intersections: teaching, mastery, and human connection, through the very specific lens of what your face is saying before you ever open your mouth.My guest is Brian Galke, known as The Decoding Detective, founder of Subtle Skills: a company that teaches people how to read facial features and nonverbal cues so they can build instant rapport, communicate clearly, and create more powerful connections in business and in life.If you’ve ever wished you could “read the room” faster, connect with clients more deeply, sell with integrity, or simply feel less awkward as an introvert in an extroverted world, this is your episode.We talk about:How Brian went from introverted help-desk tech to regional VP of sales managing a $40M portfolio — largely by decoding faces and adjusting his communicationWhy many of the best teachers, speakers, and coaches are introverts or ambiverts, not “natural extroverts”The link between facial features and how people process information (visual, auditory, kinesthetic)How eyebrows, lids, ears and even that little line under the lip offer clues into how someone thinks, decides, and feels lovedWhy reading faces is not “profiling” or manipulation — but a tool for empathy and understandingThe alarming reality that younger generations are losing basic in-person communication skills (eye contact, presence, interviews)How to stand out as AI and automation take over “good enough” communication — and why true presence and connection will only become more valuableThe deeper psychological and spiritual need we all share: to feel seen and heard, not just processed and replied toThis is not an episode about tricks or gimmicks. It is an episode about attention as a superpower, and the kind of subtle mastery that separates the top 1–2% of teachers, leaders, and salespeople from everyone else.https://subtleskills.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Subtle-Skills-4-Page-Cheat-Sheet-Eyebrows-Eyelids-Eye-Angles.pdf?srsltid=AfmBOoqVfHMbkAPxXhfgqjuW4dhS4LeRQdqTqlLw-lV--jUxZrhW6k1xIn this conversation, you’ll learn:How Brian “accidentally” discovered face decoding over dinner and had his own personality read back to himWhy introverts often make the best observers, teachers and coaches — and how to use that to your advantageHow to use facial features to quickly adapt your communication (for clients, partners, teams, and yes, dates)Why he calls his company Subtle Skills — and how these micro-skills quietly transform your resultsHow door-to-door sales teams, hiring managers, and even people dating online use his system in real lifeA simple way to make people feel truly seen in a world of distraction (and why this alone can change someone’s day)About Brian GalkeBrian Galke is a speaker, trainer, and founder of Subtle Skills, specializing in decoding facial features to improve communication, sales, and relationships. He has trained sales teams, leaders, and entrepreneurs across multiple industries, helping them create instant rapport and deeper trust by actually understanding the person in front of them.He’s taken his own journey from introverted help-desk support, to regional VP of sales, to full-time speaker and teacher — building a hyper-focused niche around one big idea: your face is talking long before you speak.Learn more about Brian & Subtle Skills:Website:https://subtleskills.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorqul78Yoekppy7160G6a__byVFcIdtmNYxQAuzDPuXXZsL7rpnInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/briangalke/?hl=enIf you loved this episode, please subscribe, rate, and share it with someone who cares about mastery, teaching, and the art of truly seeing people.To learn more about Coach Keren Eldad and With Enthusiasm Coaching, go to: www.KerenEldad.comMentioned in this episode:Book a Call

In this luminous episode of COACHED: Coaching Masters, I sit down with one of my own great teachers, Nayaswami Asha, a senior teacher in the Ananda Sangha worldwide movement and a direct disciple of Swami Kriyananda, in the lineage of Paramhansa Yogananda, author of Autobiography of a Yogi.We talk about what it really means to live as a soul in human form during “strange times,” why the universe is made of energy, not matter, and how our longing for meaning, joy, and relief from suffering is not a defect, but a compass pointing us back to the truth of who we are.From her early days as an 18-year-old “truth seeker” in California, to the fateful moment she heard Swami Kriyananda speak at Stanford in 1969, to 16 years living at Ananda Village in simple, communal, spiritually charged conditions, Asha traces how her path unfolded – not as a neat, linear ascent, but as a series of inner recognitions, breakdowns, and choices to align ever more sincerely with love, service, and higher consciousness.We also dive into the role of the spiritual teacher and guru, the power of lineage and “magnetism” (why real transmission is much more than information), and how to stay grounded and joyful even as the world feels more polarized, fearful, and chaotic.If you have ever wondered why you are here, why life sometimes feels like a shiny, gilded cage, and how to find a safe place inside yourself that no turbulence can touch – this conversation is for you.In this episode, we explore:The early life of a truth seekerGrowing up in an intelligent but non-spiritual, socially conscious familyThe paradox of being “basically happy” but burning with questions about suffering and happinessDiscovering Swami Vivekananda’s writings and immediately recognizing a deeper truthThe moment the teacher appearsThe “fateful day” at Stanford in 1969 when Nayaswami Asha first heard Swami Kriyananda speakWhy his presence felt like an embodied answer to a question she had carried her whole lifeHow she knew “he has what I want” and what it means to recognize your teacherAnanda Village and a new way of lifeMoving into a young spiritual community in the 1970s: goat milk, gardens, trailers, no electricityLiving extremely simply, yet feeling overwhelmingly rich in joy and purposeBecoming Swami Kriyananda’s assistant and hostess, and learning by attunement, not just studyEnergy, magnetism, and the real role of a teacherWhy Asha insists that the real transmission is not content, but magnetismHow a true teacher is like an “open window,” letting more of the divine light flow throughWhy genuine masters never claim the power as their own and always “pass it up the line”Self-forgetfulness vs. perfection of the egoThe difference between self-realization and personal-development perfectionismWhy our greatest moments of joy are usually the moments we forget ourselvesHow trying to perfect the small self creates anxiety and “gilded cages” of external validationKarma, reincarnation, and why this wild planet is not a mistakeA clear, grounded explanation of reincarnation as a compassionate, logical designHow our unresolved lessons live in our energy and draw us to the exact right circumstancesWhy we “chose this planet” in this time: both to serve and to face our fearsYes, it really might get worse – and that can be good newsWhat it means to be in a transition from an age of matter to an age of energyThe rise of super-charged ego and technological power, and the equal rise of light “underground”How turbulence forces us to seek a real inner safety, and higher levels of happinessSincerity as the heart of spiritual practiceWhy “sincerity, not perfection” is the real fuel for discipline and devotionHow to know whether you’re truly ready for transformation: what happens when things get hardThe one question to ask in any situation: “What is this activating in me?”Love as the ultimate purposeWhy we are ultimately here “to learn to love” – and why love is not always “nice”How perfect love casts out fear and leads to joyPractical examples of choosing to serve rather than freeze in fear, even on a random flight from MexicoMentioned in this episodeNayaswami Asha – teacher, author, and spiritual director with Ananda Sangha: https://www.instagram.com/innerlifewith_asha/Paramhansa Yogananda, Autobiography of a Yogi (link: https://www.amazon.com/Autobiography-Reprint-Philosophical-library-First/dp/1565892127/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?adgrpid=188921505000&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.JWkEsunxvQv4ZLblIUyE31QZkPq3-x4S3sNyv4w7K0LsfbUmh6llSE06bn7uptcwET_p3b_FwT9CW0H6w16SG6DF6fTo27KEP_8VQwuqm0c8IEVsuv1b-fIkn4BZmW9xI1J2Qcjx-snQASYFHZAvQeu2QoL2f7zkkm_kn_Z6UyD6o8F4vz-HiZAvRinI73DsHjmtiE-7qJbQFlJZ9d-8QB8sA4XVPuG-eUL9LTyRVO4.TJNbPFXbJlNkwD0M6v2nSUf71mW8wKOyghsEswi_hAw&dib_tag=se&hvadid=779572530853&hvdev=c&hvexpln=0&hvlocphy=9060225&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=6930145912084542343--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=6930145912084542343&hvtargid=kwd-378389948097&hydadcr=22591_13821178_9241&keywords=autobiography+of+a+yogi+amazon&mcid=a50e8358fa48389f8e9700dd28bab775&qid=1764007427&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1)Asha’s talks on the current world situation: “Yes, It Will Get Worse” (parts 1 & 2): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKkKveJ2hLs, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy9XW5nXRvMGILDED: Break Free From the Cage of Ambition, Perfectionism, and the Relentless Pursuit of More – by Coach Keren Eldad: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=gilded+keren+eldad&adgrpid=189531211907&hvadid=779513894136&hvdev=c&hvexpln=0&hvlocphy=9060225&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=3389580693659355576--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=3389580693659355576&hvtargid=kwd-2388726978615&hydadcr=22537_13730727_8187&mcid=38855ac2f5e03c58b1696bec8b166ac2&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_79tpfm02cc_eConnectListen to more COACHED: Coaching Masters episodes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coached-with-coach-keren/id1467079024Follow Nayaswami Asha: https://www.ashajoy.org/, https://www.instagram.com/innerlifewith_asha/Connect with Coach Keren: www.KerenEldad.com, https://www.instagram.com/coachkeren/?hl=enCoached Show Disclaimer:The views and opinions expressed by guests on this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Coach Keren or With Enthusiasm. Nothing shared should be taken as an endorsement of specific advice, teachings, or opinions. This series is intended to showcase a range of teaching styles and business methodologies for educational and informational purposes only.Mentioned in this episode:Book a Call

In this Coaching Masters episode of COACHED, I, Coach Keren Eldad (PCC), sit down with one of my true heroes: Dr. Gay Hendricks – psychologist, teacher, and author of classics like The Big Leap, Conscious Loving, Five Wishes, Conscious Luck, and his new memoir, Loving Life.For over 50 years, Gay has helped millions of people (myself included) break free from hidden limits on their happiness and success, step into their Zone of Genius, and create relationships where honesty, responsibility, and creativity replace blame and hiding.In this conversation, Gay takes us behind the scenes of his life: from his spectacularly dysfunctional Southern family and 300-pound, chain-smoking twenties… to the fall on the ice that dropped him into pure consciousness… to meeting Ram Dass, starting a daily meditation practice in 1972, and building a body of work that has changed how we think about success, love, and luck.We talk about what really blocks our happiness (hello, Upper Limit Problem), what it actually takes to live in your genius zone, and how he and his wife Kathlyn have sustained 44+ years of conscious partnership.If you’re ready to stop self-sabotaging, claim your genius, and love more fully from wherever you are – this episode is a masterclass.In this episode, you’ll learn:Gay’s origin story & the fall that changed everythingGrowing up in Leesburg, Florida, in a loud, opinionated, “perfect for a future therapist” familyHis mother’s “on a dare” run for mayor, and the grandparents who barely spoke for decadesBeing the only obese kid in a skinny family, diet pills in 9th grade, and toxic early relationshipsThe ice fall at 24 that opened a window into pure consciousness – and why he committed to finding his way back thereMeditation, happiness, and a hotel room in rotten-egg spa townHow a Ram Dass lecture and a paperback in a grocery store doorway gave him a pathStarting a daily meditation practice in 1972 (and never missing a day since)The New Zealand flu story: being desperately ill, reeking sulfur, and discovering a layer of happiness that circumstances couldn’t touchWhy he says our “true home” is not ecstasy or achievement, but the quiet field of pure beingThe Upper Limit Problem & Zone of GeniusThe moment he noticed himself sabotaging weight-loss progress with a giant sundae in Harvard SquareHow we unconsciously cap our happiness and success because we’re “allergic” to feeling too goodThe four classic ways we upper-limit: worry, criticism, accidents/illness, and conflictThe Zone of Genius: the sweet spot where what you most love to do is what most serves the worldMoving from 10% genius time to 100% – and why Gay hasn’t done anything outside his Zone of Genius in 25 yearsConscious Loving & creating relationships where no one has to hideRealizing the problem wasn’t “out there”: “It’s an inside job. My job is to figure out who I am and what I want in love.”The three foundations he committed to before meeting Kathlyn: radical honesty, ownership instead of blame, and shared respect for creativityHow Conscious Loving went from living-room groups to a major book deal and an Oprah appearanceWhy “nobody ever blames their way to happiness or enlightenment”Luck, intention, and what’s nextThe ninth-grade decision to “be one of the lucky ones” – and the coin-collector story that followedWhy he says if you’re still stuck, you likely haven’t made a deep enough commitment yetHis original birthday wish – “eternal happiness for everyone, including me” – and why it still standsGay’s newest project: an AI-powered coaching portal to support coaches and clients in real timeResources & Links📚 Explore Gay’s work:Website: https://hendricks.com/?v=0b3b97fa6688Loving Life (memoir)The Big LeapConscious LovingThe Big Leap Podcast: https://bigleappodcast.com/📘 Read GILDED by Coach Keren Eldad: https://www.amazon.com/Gilded-Breaking-Ambition-Perfectionism-Relentless/dp/B0DXRK5FLL/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1OPCX1FARYF63&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.njD5L0Nd6doDLQVmo_4wtVKk_-HS5-aTOZ4Oq3LQXIfLe_2B_B22PN1Jz1vUr3hsQGkARRYSBSM38bgnhX_woQ.4cDO6ga9zTbytHLae6dqqbmCUB7zBWQN3Vujzi4uQ1Y&dib_tag=se&keywords=gilded+keren&qid=1764085054&sprefix=gilded+keren%2Caps%2C118&sr=8-1Mentioned in this episode:Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for MeaningConnect with Coach Keren:Website: www.KerenEldad.comInstagram: Instagram.com/KerenEldadGILDED: Break Free From the Cage of Ambition, Perfectionism, and the Relentless Pursuit of More: https://www.amazon.com/Gilded-Breaking-Ambition-Perfectionism-Relentless/dp/B0DXRK5FLL/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1OPCX1FARYF63&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.njD5L0Nd6doDLQVmo_4wtVKk_-HS5-aTOZ4Oq3LQXIfLe_2B_B22PN1Jz1vUr3hsQGkARRYSBSM38bgnhX_woQ.4cDO6ga9zTbytHLae6dqqbmCUB7zBWQN3Vujzi4uQ1Y&dib_tag=se&keywords=gilded+keren&qid=1764085054&sprefix=gilded+keren%2Caps%2C118&sr=8-1🎧 Listen to COACHED on:Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dr-gay-hendricks-the-big-leap-into-your-genius-zone/id1467079024?i=1000740814844Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/episode/0KTTsqkF9vtdQAQezmjLjb?si=6d0821d325714915📺 Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Zdsi6Dq4s3AMentioned in this episode:Book a Call

What if “miracles” weren’t random, but a frequency you could live in?In this powerful and heart-opening conversation, Coach K sits down with The Bachelorette alum and transformational coach Eric Bigger, whose signature mantra “It’s Miracle Season” was born from heartbreak, ego death, and deep spiritual awakening.From Baltimore to Hollywood to Machu Picchu, Eric shares how his journey through fame, loss, and plant medicine led him to redefine success, embody love, and create Spiritual Fitness,  a practice that keeps the soul as strong as the body.Together, they unpack:The true meaning behind It’s Miracle Season, and how to activate that frequency.Why heartbreak and ego death are portals, not punishments.How authenticity and vulnerability are the new visibility in the AI age.The birth of Eric’s Spiritual Fitness movement, and why staying spiritually fit is as essential as staying physically fit.The courage to stop performing, surrender control, and live from soul.This episode is a transmission of healing, humility, and higher consciousness: a reminder that the miracle isn’t out there; it’s you.Guest: Eric Bigger, motivational speaker, author, TV personality, podcast host, and creator of The Miracle Season movement.Host: Coach Keren EldadKey Quotes“In order to be a king, you have to receive.” – Eric Bigger“Purpose is a side effect of surrender.” – Coach Keren Eldad“Miracle Season is a healing frequency that ends all suffering.” – Eric BiggerMentioned in This Episode A Hundred Days of Wisdom and Transformation by Eric BiggerMan’s Search for Meaning by Viktor FranklPower vs. Force by David HawkinsThe Work (“Loving What Is”) by Byron KatieSpiritual Fitness Podcast by Eric Bigger Connect with Eric BiggerInstagram: @EricBiggerWebsite: ericbigger.comListen to Spiritual Fitness wherever you get your podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spiritual-fitness-with-eric-bigger/id1346342753 Connect with Coach KerenWebsite: www.coachkeren.comBook a Clarity Call: calendly.com/kereneldadFollow on Instagram: @coachkerenCoached Show Disclaimer:The views and opinions expressed by guests on this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Coach Keren or With Enthusiasm. Nothing shared should be taken as an endorsement of specific advice, teachings, or opinions. This series is intended to showcase a range of teaching styles and business methodologies for educational and informational purposes only.Mentioned in this episode:Book a Call