What does it mean to lead from behind the plate – and in life? In this episode on The Coaching Podcast, Ryan Lavarnway, World Series Champion, Olympian, and resilience coach, shares hard-earned lessons from baseball and beyond. From catching knuckleballs to catching life’s curveballs, Ryan explores how resilience is a skill you build before you need it, why inaction is the real enemy, and how great coaches create cultures where players lead themselves. He unpacks his powerful WHY NOT framework and offers practical wisdom for anyone striving to lead with purpose, trust, and grit.

About Ryan Lavarnway – Keynote Speaker | Resilience Coach | World Series Champion
Ryan Lavarnway is a former Major League Baseball catcher, Olympian, and World Series Champion known for his grit, adaptability, and leadership behind the plate. Over his professional career, he earned a reputation for catching some of the game’s toughest pitches – including the elusive knuckleball – and delivering under pressure. Ryan is a two-time published author, Ironman finisher, and proud Girl Dad. Today, he brings his passion for peak performance, resilience, and team culture to stages and boardrooms as a keynote speaker and resilience coach. Fueled by purpose (and perfectly timed caffeine), Ryan inspires audiences to lean into possibility and lead like a catcher – ready, responsive, and resilient.

Connect with Ryan:

Website: https://ryanlavarnway.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-lavarnway/
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/rlavarnway/
Book: https://www.amazon.com/Why-Not-Journal-Ryan-Lavarnway/dp/B0F3XYNWWN

What does it mean to truly partner with your clients as a coach? In this episode, Executive Coach and author Karen Davis shares what makes a great coach—from trusting your intuition and evoking inner wisdom to holding space through silence and structure. Karen offers insights from her book How to Get the Most Out of Coaching and unpacks the power of agreements versus expectations. We also touch on her recent keynote on gender inequity, her work with entrepreneurs, and why integrity in coaching always begins with “I”.

Karen Davis – Executive Coach | Author | Speaker
Karen Davis is a highly respected executive coach, author, and speaker with over 25 years of leadership experience in the B2B technology sector. A Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coaching Federation, she brings deep insight, intuition, and heart to every coaching relationship. For nearly two decades, Karen has supported executives, entrepreneurs, and fellow coaches to thrive personally and professionally.

She is the co-author of How to Get the Most Out of Coaching: A Client’s Guide for Optimizing the Coaching Experience and two other titles. Whether she’s coaching from her studio near Boulder, Colorado, or walking in nature with her dogs, Jax and Pepper, Karen’s work is infused with compassion, clarity, and joy. Her greatest support system includes her life partner, Alex Mill, and her two adult children, Dustin and Alexa.

🌐 www.KarenDavisCoaching.com
📱 303.588.8935 | ✉️ karen@KarenDavisCoaching.com
🔗 LinkedIn | Facebook | Book

Purpose, perspective, and passion – Joe White believes these three ingredients create the compass that every great leader needs. From professional athlete to award-winning coach and educator, Joe’s journey is steeped in discipline, direction, and a deep desire to elevate those around him. Whether you're leading a team, a business, or your own life, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways to help you find your path, unlock your potential, and lead with heart.

About Joe White - Director of Golf at IMG Academy

Growing up playing competitive sports, Joe White is no stranger to striving for excellence while working with a team. Joe was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds and the Seattle Mariners, and played in the Seattle Mariners organization before a shoulder injury ended his baseball career. His love for the game propelled him into his next career as a baseball and football coach, during which time he was awarded coach of the year twice, regional coach of the year in 2013, and was a part of five state championship teams.

Joe is also a retired teacher of business education, where he taught accounting, business law, and professional business. During his thirty years as a teacher, he was nominated for the Apple Teaching Award seven times and was listed in “Who’s Who Among American Teachers.” Joe has also excelled in public speaking, having spoken at coaches' clinics across the Midwest, as well as the Nike Football Clinic. Among all of his accomplishments, Joe’s greatest are being a loving son to his parents (his father, above, was also a lifelong coach!) and a devoted husband and father to three children, who have all excelled in sports and school.

Connect with Joe:

Website: https://www.coachjoewhiteconsulting.com/