🎙 Episode 365 – Steve Whelan | Coach Identity, Trust & Creating Environments for Growth

In this episode, Coach Yas sits down with Steve Whelan (Senior Coach Developer & Leadership Specialist) to explore what it really takes to develop coaches and build trust-filled environments where people thrive.

With a background spanning high-performance sport, corporate leadership, and coach development, Steve brings a unique perspective to questions around coach identity, psychological safety, and the invisible forces that shape how we show up on and off the pitch.

This conversation goes beneath the surface of Xs and Os to ask: Who are you as a coach? And how do you build environments that reflect that identity with honesty and intent?

💡 Key Talking Points

Why identity is central to your coaching—not just what you know, but who you are.

How trust and vulnerability underpin long-term growth in coaching relationships.

Why coach development must move beyond competence to connection.

The power of language in shaping the culture of your sessions and wider environments.

How Steve uses principles from leadership and psychology to support coaches in navigating uncertainty.

Why the best environments balance high challenge with high support.

🧠 “If you don’t know who you are, how can you know how you coach—or why anyone would trust you?” – Steve Whelan

📣 Whether you're mentoring others, leading a team, or still figuring out your own coaching voice, this episode will get you thinking deeply about identity, trust, and the kind of culture you're really building.

👉 Like, share, and follow if this sparked reflection around your own coaching journey!

💬 Join the conversation on LinkedIn—tag us and share how you're building meaningful environments in your setting.