Why Smart Coaches Still Freeze on Calls (And How We're Fixing It) The Missing Link Between Knowing and Coaching Well
Tue Feb 03 2026
Coaches are consuming more content than ever—books, podcasts, trainings—and yet many still freeze on calls, overthink what to say next, or default to advice-giving when clients get emotional or stuck.
In this episode of The Art and Skill of Coaching, I name the skill gap most coaches feel but can't articulate: the gap between knowing coaching concepts and being able to execute them cleanly in real time.
I'm joined by Cat—ASC graduate, peer coach, and collaborator inside The Art & Skill of Coaching—who helps break down why content consumption doesn't create mastery, and what actually makes coaching skills stick.
We discuss:
Why freezing on calls isn't a confidence or motivation problem—it's a training problem
The difference between understanding coaching theory and being able to coach live
Why mastery is an embodied skill (and how therapists and elite performers are actually trained)
Inside the new ASC Intervention Library and how it teaches coaches how to coach, not just what to know
If you've ever thought, "I know this… why can't I do it on a call?"—this episode will make it click.
Learn more about The Art & Skill of Coaching certification:
https://www.jessicademarchis.com/the-art-skill-of-coaching
ASC Waitlist:
https://purple-lion-72607.myflodesk.com/ascwaitlist
Stay in Touch:
www.jessicademarchis.com
IG @jess_demarchis_coaching
The Coach Skill Audit:
https://purple-lion-72607.myflodesk.com/coachskillaudit
Coach Question of the Week:
https://purple-lion-72607.myflodesk.com/agcj1mr1y3
Catherine's IG: @cat_farrell_lifecoach
Why Intuition Isn't Coaching: How to Spot and Stop Projection in Sessions (Episode 181): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-art-skill-of-coaching/id1612960277?i=1000719596313
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Coaches are consuming more content than ever—books, podcasts, trainings—and yet many still freeze on calls, overthink what to say next, or default to advice-giving when clients get emotional or stuck. In this episode of The Art and Skill of Coaching, I name the skill gap most coaches feel but can't articulate: the gap between knowing coaching concepts and being able to execute them cleanly in real time. I'm joined by Cat—ASC graduate, peer coach, and collaborator inside The Art & Skill of Coaching—who helps break down why content consumption doesn't create mastery, and what actually makes coaching skills stick. We discuss: Why freezing on calls isn't a confidence or motivation problem—it's a training problem The difference between understanding coaching theory and being able to coach live Why mastery is an embodied skill (and how therapists and elite performers are actually trained) Inside the new ASC Intervention Library and how it teaches coaches how to coach, not just what to know If you've ever thought, "I know this… why can't I do it on a call?"—this episode will make it click. Learn more about The Art & Skill of Coaching certification: https://www.jessicademarchis.com/the-art-skill-of-coaching ASC Waitlist: https://purple-lion-72607.myflodesk.com/ascwaitlist Stay in Touch: www.jessicademarchis.com IG @jess_demarchis_coaching The Coach Skill Audit: https://purple-lion-72607.myflodesk.com/coachskillaudit Coach Question of the Week: https://purple-lion-72607.myflodesk.com/agcj1mr1y3 Catherine's IG: @cat_farrell_lifecoach Why Intuition Isn't Coaching: How to Spot and Stop Projection in Sessions (Episode 181): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-art-skill-of-coaching/id1612960277?i=1000719596313