What if frustration in business wasn’t a roadblock, but the very thing that could propel you forward?

In this episode, I’m joined by Andrew Oxley, executive coach, author, and leadership mentor with over 30 years of experience working with leaders from companies like Coca-Cola, CNN, and Progressive. Andrew has built a career helping entrepreneurs and executives turn roadblocks into results, blending practical strategies with honesty (and the occasional dad joke).

We explore the shift from traditional management to purpose-driven leadership, the complexities of people in business, and the lessons entrepreneurs often overlook. Andrew shares why self-awareness, specialisation, and providing real value are essential for long-term success, and why purpose matters more than ever especially for the next generation of leaders.

💡 Key Takeaways:

• Leadership is about helping people move from one place to another.
• COVID accelerated changes in workplace dynamics and priorities.
• Young professionals prioritise purpose over pay check.
• Specialisation in business often leads to greater success.
• Money matters, but it shouldn’t be the only focus.
• Many entrepreneurs neglect the fundamentals while chasing passion.
• Coaching provides accountability and helps uncover blind spots.
• Self-reflection is crucial for growth and overcoming self-doubt.
• Living fully and providing value should drive leadership decisions.

✨ In Andrew's Words:

• "We should live our lives fully."
• "It’s not about doing complex things."
• "You should be providing value."

🙌 Connect with Andrew Oxley:

👉 LinkedIn

👉 Website

🔗 Stay connected with James Dean Coaching:

👉 Website

👉 LinkedIn

👉 Instagram

👉 Podcast

🎯 Interested in coaching?

If you’re ready to reconnect with what matters most and move forward with clarity, confidence, and purpose — I’d love to support you.

📅 Book your free Clarity Call

What if true leadership wasn’t about control, but about creating safety, belonging, and space for growth?

In this episode, I’m joined by Shane Kenny, a certified coach, entrepreneur, and business leader with more than 30 years of experience in hospitality, service industries, and family businesses. From managing prestigious hotels in Washington D.C. to leading award-winning restaurants in Ireland, Shane has lived the highs and lows of business before transitioning into coaching and systemic business constellations.

We explore Shane’s journey from hospitality to therapy and coaching, the importance of authenticity and empathy in leadership, and why psychological safety is the foundation of thriving workplaces.

Shane shares powerful insights on family business dynamics, navigating transitions, and how ADHD has shaped his personal and professional path. His story is a reminder that leadership is not just about strategy it’s about people, connection, and values.

💡 Key Takeaways:

• Family and mental health are top priorities.
• Hospitality is rooted in empathy and human connection.
• Authenticity fosters belonging and trust in the workplace.
• Psychological safety drives engagement and growth.
• Family dynamics profoundly impact business operations.
• Systemic coaching helps navigate hidden challenges.
• Transitions in family businesses can be complex.
• ADHD has influenced Shane’s perspective and approach.
• Supportive environments benefit everyone involved.

✨ In Shane's Words

• "Legacy is always moving."
• "It’s okay to say no."

🙌 Connect with Shane Kenny:

👉 LinkedIn

👉 Website

👉 Email

🔗 Stay connected with James Dean Coaching:

👉 Website

👉 LinkedIn

👉 Instagram

👉 Podcast

🎯 Interested in coaching?

If you’re ready to reconnect with what matters most and move forward with clarity, confidence, and purpose, I’d love to support you.

📅 Book your free Clarity Call

What if embracing your differences was the key to unlocking your true potential?

In this episode, I’m joined by Ron Souers, ADHD advocate, podcast host of Dn’t Mind Me, I’m Different, and author of The Self Discovery Journal for Adults with ADHD. Ron shares his journey of living with ADHD and depression, and how it shaped his mission to challenge stigma, foster acceptance, and empower others to thrive.

We explore the importance of mental health in the workplace, the value of open conversations about emotions, and why self-love and self-advocacy are essential for personal growth. Ron also shares his insights on emotional intelligence, pro-social skills, and creating neurodiverse-friendly workplaces that benefit both employees and businesses.

💡 Key Takeaways:

• Mental health is crucial for workplace productivity and engagement.
• Too often, people mask their emotions at work instead of seeking support.
• ADHD is often misunderstood and requires deeper awareness and acceptance.
• Open conversations about mental health lead to stronger solutions.
• Self-love and acceptance are central to personal and professional growth.
• Emotional intelligence enhances communication and relationships.
• Pro-social skills help build deeper, more authentic connections.
• Advocacy for mental health transforms both lives and workplaces.

✨ In Their Words

• "A happy employee is a productive employee."
• "I want to understand what ADHD really was."
• "The silence that kills."

Connect with Ron Souers

👉 Website: https://dadhdwss.com/

👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ronnyreel/

👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ron-souers-9162b1a0/

Let’s stay connected:

👉 Website: https://jamesdeancoach.com/

👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-dean-688557156/

👉 Instagram: @jamesdeancoaching

👉 Podcast: What’s Important to You

🎯 Interested in coaching?

If you’re ready to reconnect with what matters most and move forward with clarity, confidence, and purpose — I’d love to support you.

Book a free Clarity Call here: https://tidycal.com/jamesdeancoaching/clarity-call

What if the transformative principles of recovery weren’t just for people with addiction, but for anyone ready to stop choosing chaos over peace?

In this episode, I’m joined by Amanda Grace, trauma-informed therapist, integrative coach, and creator of The Serenity Project. After her own eight-year recovery journey, Amanda realized that the wisdom of recovery could benefit everyone, not just those in sobriety. She created The Serenity Project to make those tools accessible to anyone seeking emotional freedom and belonging.

We explore Amanda’s framework of Guts, Grounding & Grace, the role of creativity in healing, and the importance of listening to our inner narrator and inner child. Amanda shares her story of self-discovery, leadership, and the courage it takes to claim sovereignty in life choices. Together, we dive into the messy, honest truths of anger, shame, coping mechanisms, and the universal need for recovery wisdom.

💡 Key Takeaways:

• Sovereignty is essential in making authentic choices.
• Creativity can serve as both healing and expression.
• Understanding your internal narrator deepens self-awareness.
• Coping mechanisms often mask fear of truth and emotion.
• Sobriety and recovery can transform life beyond addiction.
• Leadership often emerges from personal struggles.
• Belonging is vital in recovery and growth.
• Women often carry chaos at the cost of their own well-being.
• Recovery wisdom applies to everyday life, not just addiction.
• Guts, Grounding & Grace provide a framework for lasting change.

✨ In Their Words

• "Anger and shame cycle."
• "We are chaos managers."
• "You cannot buy health."



Connect with Amanda Grace

👉 Website: https://theserenityproject.ie/

👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/graceforhire/

Let’s stay connected:

👉 Website: https://jamesdeancoach.com/

👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-dean-688557156/

👉 Instagram: @jamesdeancoaching

👉 Podcast: What’s Important to You

🎯 Interested in coaching?

If you’re ready to reconnect with what matters most and move forward with clarity, confidence, and purpose — I’d love to support you.

Book a free Clarity Call here: https://tidycal.com/jamesdeancoaching/clarity-call

What if the key to thriving at work and in life came down to one word: connection?

In this episode, I’m joined by Andrea O’Grady, Wellness and Mindset Coach, Workplace Wellbeing Consultant, and founder of The Wellness Edge. After 15 years in the high-pressure world of retail and buying, Andrea pivoted into health and wellness, dedicating the past 15 years to helping individuals, leaders, and organisations build resilience and create cultures of wellbeing.

We explore the importance of connection to self, to others, and within workplaces as a foundation for personal fulfilment and professional success. Andrea shares her expertise on stress, burnout, and resilience, alongside practical strategies for fostering engagement, empathetic leadership, and sustainable wellbeing practices.

💡 Key Takeaways:

• Connection is essential for both personal growth and workplace culture.
• Movement is medicine for both body and mind.
• Personal experiences shape how we approach leadership and wellbeing.
• Empathetic leadership is key to thriving teams.
• Early intervention in mental health can prevent burnout.
• Work-life balance is vital for resilience and engagement.
• Understanding the nervous system improves emotional regulation.
• The Wellness Edge is about fostering a culture of wellbeing at work.

✨ In Their Words

• "Movement is medicine; it enhances health."
• "Early intervention can prevent burnout."
• "Connection is my compass for the future."

Connect with Andrea O'Grady

👉 Website

👉 Instagram

👉 LinkedIn

Let’s stay connected:

👉 Website

👉 LinkedIn

👉 Instagram

👉 Podcast

🎯 Interested in coaching?

If you’re ready to reconnect with what matters most and move forward with clarity, confidence, and purpose — I’d love to support you.

Book a free Clarity Call here: https://tidycal.com/jamesdeancoaching/clarity-call

What if midlife wasn’t a crisis, but an opportunity to rewrite your story?

In this episode, I’m joined by Ashleigh Tobin — TEDx speaker, award-winning storyteller, nurse, coach, and unapologetic advocate for looking after the body, the only place we truly have to live. With over 35 years’ experience across nursing, pharmaceuticals, and holistic health, Ashleigh blends science, soul, and straight-talking insight to help people restore health, reset habits, and reclaim their energy.

We explore the importance of appreciating life, embracing career transitions, and reframing menopause as a powerful new chapter of self-discovery and empowerment. Ashleigh shares her passion for awareness, purpose, and the daily practices that keep us grounded, along with the quotes and influences that have shaped her journey.

💡 Key Takeaways:

• Remember to appreciate being alive, it’s a gift.
• How we spend our days shapes how we live our lives.
• Career transitions can spark personal growth and purpose.
• Physical health and mental health are deeply connected.
• Midlife and menopause can be reframed as times of empowerment.
• Checking in with yourself regularly is vital for balance.
• The stories we tell ourselves matter and can be rewritten.
• Simplicity often carries the deepest wisdom.

✨ In Their Words

• "It's good to be alive."
• "It's time to check in."
• "We can rewrite the story of midlife."

Connect with Ashleigh Tobin

👉 Website

👉 Workshop - Feel Like Yourself Again In Midlife

👉 Instagram

👉 LinkedIn

Stay connected with James Dean

👉 Website

👉 LinkedIn

👉 Instagram

👉 Podcast

🎯 Interested in coaching?

If you’re ready to reconnect with what matters most and move forward with clarity, confidence, and purpose — I’d love to support you.

Book a free Clarity Call here: https://tidycal.com/jamesdeancoaching/clarity-call

What does it mean to pause, reflect, and live with greater intention?

In this episode, I’m joined by Lucy Cronly, accredited life and leadership coach, systemic practitioner, and author of The Right Shoes. Lucy brings a wealth of experience from her career in residential care, her training in neuroscience and systemic family therapy, and her personal journey as a mother.

We explore the importance of family, the challenges of parenting, and the transition into adulthood. Lucy shares how stories, metaphors, and coaching can help people reconnect with their inner wisdom, embrace self-compassion, and move from stress to balance. She also reflects on the voices that shaped her life and how she now supports others to lead and live more intentionally.

Key Takeaways:

• Family is at the heart of what matters most.
• Parenthood is a journey of growth and learning.
• Supporting young people means allowing them to make their own choices.
• Coaching is about scaffolding growth, not giving answers.
• Listening deeply creates meaningful insights.
• Self-compassion is a cornerstone of personal development.
• The stories we tell shape the lives we live.
• Every small choice builds towards the bigger picture.

In Their Words

• "I love being a mum."
• "We can scaffold young people."

Connect with Lucy Cronly

👉 Website

👉 Instagram

👉 LinkedIn

Stay connected with James Dean

👉 Website

👉 LinkedIn

👉 Instagram

👉 Podcast

🎯 Interested in coaching?

If you’re ready to reconnect with what matters most and move forward with clarity, confidence, and purpose — I’d love to support you.

Book a free Clarity Call here: https://tidycal.com/jamesdeancoaching/clarity-call

What if the key to supporting neurodivergent individuals wasn’t more labels or complexity but movement?

In this episode, I’m joined by Niki McGlynn, a neurodiversity specialist, coach, and creator of movement programmes designed to integrate retained primitive reflexes. Drawing from her own lived experience as a neurodivergent woman and mother of two neurodivergent children, Niki shares how movement can improve focus, concentration, posture, and emotional regulation while reducing anxiety.

We explore the overlooked role of primitive reflexes in learning and development, the impact of modern education on childhood activity levels, and how understanding neuroplasticity opens up practical ways to better support neurodiverse individuals in schools, families, therapy, and even the workplace.

💡 Key Takeaways:

• Primitive reflexes are foundational for development and learning.
• Movement is essential to integrate reflexes and support brain function.
• Fear reflexes can hinder emotional regulation if left unaddressed.
• Today’s education systems often neglect the importance of physical activity.
• Retained reflexes can affect posture and concentration.
• Integrating reflexes enhances learning and reduces anxiety.
• Creativity and the arts play a vital role in holistic education.
• Businesses benefit from better understanding and supporting neurodiverse employees.

In Their Words:

• "It's about balance."
• "It's a whole person thing."
• "Movement builds brains."

Connect with Niki McGlynn

👉 Website

👉 LinkedIn

Stay connected with James Dean

👉 Website

👉 LinkedIn

👉 Instagram

👉 Podcast

🎯 Interested in coaching?

If you’re ready to reconnect with what matters most and move forward with clarity, confidence, and purpose — I’d love to support you.

Book a free Clarity Call here: https://tidycal.com/jamesdeancoaching/clarity-call