Feminist Coach Academy

In this episode, we share more about why we no longer have a certification program, and how you can get your certificate of completion. 

In this episode, we chat with Feminist Coach Academy graduate, Amanda Rootsey, about her journey starting her business, Shine From Within, and how she's been taking action over the years to make it more inclusive. 

Having accountability and support is really important. In this episode, we share some action ideas you can consider in creating accountability and support for yourself. 

In this podcast episode, Cam chats with FCA graduate, Sim, about DEI and  making sure solo entrepreneurs focus more on inclusion and equity in their business than simply diversity. This is a conversation you do not want to miss!  

Do you fear f*cking up? In this short episode, Nai talks about the fear of f*cking up and how you can work through this fear. 

In this episode, we talk about some common lies we've heard in the online coaching and business spaces that don't align with feminist values. 

It can be easy to feel defeated when trying to bring about social justice. In this episode, we share a quote from Audre Lorde that puts the work of social justice in perspective and reminds us why it's so important to continue to show up. 

In this episode, we share what some of our students have shared about how they've integrated their FCA learnings into their client practice, business, and life. 

In this episode, we share practical examples of how you can use gender-inclusive language.

Some of the areas that we see could use improvement when it comes to being more gender inclusive with language include:

• When talking about abortion
• When talking about menstruation and people who menstruate
• Holidays like “Mother’s” & “Father’s” Day
• Language around ‘niching’ in business
• How feminism is defined
• Research and studies

We go into these areas in the podcast episode and offer you alternatives to be gender-inclusive.

In this episode, FCA Advisory Board member, teacher + facilitator, Sharyn Holmes, chats with Cam about the intersections between social justice, being a sensitive person, and spirituality. It's a juicy one! 

We have an exciting episode for you today with FCA student, Ray Dodd, who is "not your average" Money Coach & Mentor. In this episode, we unpack the common phrase, 'Charge What You're Worth' and how it's tied to systems of oppression. We also talk about the idea of "deserving/not deserving" money and much more in relation to money, social conditioning and oppression! We think you're going to appreciate this one. 

We have a BRAND NEW podcast episode for you with our member @iamsimfitzgerald who helps feminist millenials create a you-shaped life that feels good + does good, which is what we chat a lot about on the episode. We LOVE this episode and hope it inspires you too! 

In this episode, Cam & Nai share how they've been trying to unlearn hustle culture and its relation to the "isms". 

Cam and Nai discuss collaboration, how it works for them and their thoughts and experiences on what makes a collaboration work (or not!). They cover the importance of compatibility, and being clear on roles and expectations surrounding the collaboration, as well as the need to balance friendship when collaborating with friends. Cam and Nai explore what is important to them in their collaborations, including alignment of values and passion, integrity and openness to accountability, reliability, trust, and having complementary knowledge, skills and strengths. They then discuss what happens when challenges come up - and they will - and why it's so important for all parties to have respect for each other and be able to have difficult conversations. Finally, Cam and Nai touch on ways we've been socialised around collaboration, such as the difference between group work and genuine collaboration, and finish by talking about the power of appreciation and acknowledgement.

Cam and Nai discuss boundaries, which is such an important topic in life and in business. They share what boundaries mean to them and what boundaries are not. Cam and Nai discuss why boundaries can be hard, both when setting them and also in honouring others' boundaries. They share how boundaries are connected to Feminist Coach Theory, abuse of power, capitalism and other systems of oppression, consent, socialisation, conditioning and more. They then discuss ways the FCA training classes cover boundaries, and some practical boundary ideas for life, business and the online world. Finally, Cam and Nai explore how respecting our own and others' boundaries is a practice, and how boundaries continue to shift and evolve over time. 

Cam interviews Mayra Cardozo, one of the current students in the Feminist Coach Academy training. Mayra is a Human Rights Lawyer, Professor of Human Rights and a Feminist Coach from Brazil. Mayra shares how growing up as the daughter of a politician and then going into criminal law, led to her becoming a feminist. Mayra also talks about living and working in a very patriarchal, male-dominated world and how she began learning about feminism and then eventually intersectional feminism. Cam and Mayra discuss how feminism often sparks anger in us that we can then channel into power and use the privileges that we do have to bring about change for ourselves and others. Mayra shares how she became interested in coaching and why she studied with the Feminist Coach Academy, as well as how it has impacted her life and work. Cam and Mayra then discuss language differences between English and Portuguese, and how it's not as straightforward in Portuguese to communicate gender inclusivity. Mayra explains how she's educating herself on this and working towards more inclusive communication. Finally, Cam and Mayra discuss the difference Mayra's community has noticed since the FCA training, and how she is exploring alternatives to the capitalist, patriarchal, hustle coaching mindset. 

Cam and Nai dig into mindset, socialisation and systemic oppression. In the coaching, personal growth and business world, we have been given a lot of messages and taught a lot of ways to feel better, to make our goals happen and to get the life that we want. However, there is a huge lack of truly inclusive feminist analysis of those message and teachings around mindset. Mindset matters and it's not the whole story. It's not as simple as changing your mindset to change your life. This is an ongoing process of unpacking and unlearning, and that's exactly what the Feminist Coach Academy was set up to help you do. 

In this episode Cam interviews FCA graduate, Maggie Patterson, a mentor to service-based business owners and content marketing agency owner with 15+ years experience. Maggie shares her trajectory in business over the last decade and a half, and the privileges she had when starting out in business that are really important to be transparent about, and why this is the missing piece of the conversation within the online business world. Cam and Maggie discuss the red flags and shady practices in the online business world. Maggie explains how 2020 helped her lose her filter and start honest conversations that deeply need to happen in the online business world. Maggie and Cam discuss the problematic pillars of online business including blaming everything on mindset, and the normalisation of arbitrary 6 and 7 figure goals and of a kind of "fancy" lifestyle that is abnormal for most people, and more!

In this episode, we share our feminist reading recommendations.

In this episode, Cam interviews Jolinda Johnson, a Wellness Mentor and Priestess who is an alumni and teacher of the Feminist Coach Academy Training. Jolinda helps her clients break up with burnout and return to the wild, whole, healthy and free. Jolinda specialises in hormone health, burnout prevention and recovery, and is focused on helping clients to tap into what feels good (not just what makes sense) and to move to a place of wholeness and wellness on their own terms, redefining what wellness means for them outside of the package that we're sold. Cam and Jolinda discuss her journey over the last 10 years, including the health experiences and new learnings that shifted her focus and why Jolinda no longer calls herself a 'Woman's Health Coach'. 

They explore some of the oppressive messages in the health and wellness spaces about our bodies and our relationships with our bodies, addressing privilege in the world of wellness and dismantling conditioning on a path to liberatory wellness. Jolinda also covers some of the ideals set up in the wellness world that perpetuate systems of oppression, such as the toxicity of the "perfect" menstrual cycle, and instead how we can learn to be savvy about hormones and befriend and claim an alliance with our body. They also discuss the toxic relationship many of us have with rest and pleasure and why we should be focusing our energy on identifying the problematic messages and oppressive systems playing out in the wellness world, instead of battling our bodies. Finally, they discuss sacred activism, what Jolinda has been learning through the FCA, becoming more inclusive and applying that in business, and the importance of being a practitioner who acknowledges oppression and communicates that imperfectly and continuously. 

Connect with Jolinda on Instagram @coachjolinda and in the Facebook Group "The Rebel Health Collective". 

Cam interviews Lena West, a Business Coach and Strategist and also one of the Advisory Board members for the FCA. Lena is also the Founder and CEO of CEO Rising, an online business accelerator and digital media platform for entrepreneurs. Lena shares what Feminism means to her and what drew Lena to the Feminist Coach Academy. Cam and Lena discuss why big brands should be investing in the FCA training, and also about what Lena teaches about breaking free of Bro Culture in business. Even though we've gotten used to these oppressive strategies and tactics in business, we can unlearn them and we can let the brands know when their techniques and tactics are not ok. Lena explains why the sense of urgency is so problematic, and Cam shares an example of how, together with Nai, they are working on unlearning this in the FCA. Plus they discuss learning ethical marketing practices, why Lena restructured her entire business model, the power of modelling what we want to see mirrored in the world and the relationship between boundaries and generosity. Lena also shares a bit about CEO Rising and her experiences being both a student and on the advisory board for FCA. 

In this first episode of Season 3, Cam and Nai explore what Feminism is, and provide a short reflection on the results of the US election and how it relates to this episode. This conversation has been inspired by hearing people, particularly White Feminists, define Feminism as gender equality. Cam and Nai believe it is so much more than that and that we need to rework that definition as a movement, a collective and a community. They share definitions from a range of Feminists that they look up to, admire and recommend to you as well. Cam and Nai explore why the definition of Feminism as gender equality is a White definition and why it's limiting to be defining it in that way, as well as some reasons why you might not identify with the term or the movement, which is often seen as the 'F word'. They discuss why it's problematic and why saying 'I'm an Intersectional Feminist' isn't the solution either, plus what we can consider saying instead. They share the definition of Feminist Coach Theory from the Feminist Coach Academy and how this relates to coaching, business and client practice. 

Today's episode is a practical one for you about how to move beyond the gender binary in your business and your life. Cam explores moving beyond the terms 'feminine' and 'masculine', why these terms aren't useful, and how they've been used in our gender binary system that we live in. Cam goes on to explore the gender norms that are associated with the gender that was placed upon your or is expected of you, and how to use them yourself (if they resonate with you) without reinforcing them with others. Finally Cam shares a simple activity that can help you get clear with your language and move beyond gender binary terms in your business. 

Cam interviews Dr. Anne Fausto-Sterling, a Professor of Biology and Gender Studies at Brown University and author of Sexing the Body and Myths of Gender. This conversation is a deep one around how we gender and construct the body. In this episode, Anne explains what inspired them to write Sexing the Body and to get into this kind of research, including their earlier work on "intersex" and the medical and social construction of the body. Anne also shares the 20 year detour into Science and Technology Studies they took, as well as the Dynamic Systems Approach to understand different bodies and how cultural differences can become bodily differences. Cam and Anne then discuss expanding sex/gender categories and the future or sports regarding gender categories, plus how important it is to use inclusive language. 

In this episode, Cam unpacks the theory of Gender Performativity. This theory comes from Judith Butler, a philosopher, professor and feminist gender theorist. Cam recommends two of Butler's books: Gender Trouble and Undoing Gender. In the FCA, we share books and reading lists to further your exploration of feminist theory and concepts. What we love to do is teach you the feminist theory and help you put that into practice in your own life and business. In this episode, Cam covers how gender is a performance, what that really means and how we can take this awareness forward in our everyday world. 

In this episode, Nai interviews FCA teacher + Advisory Board member, Desiree Adaway. It was recorded a couple years ago, however it's still very much relevant today. Desiree is a seasoned non-profit consultant and facilitator with decades of experience in helping leaders create real and lasting change in the world. All of her presentations have a mix of thought provoking content presented with humour and wit. When she teaches, she makes a point to connect with every person and create a brave space for their growth. Desiree is known by staff, senior leadership, peers and partners as being great at open, honest and productive conversations. Desiree and Nai cover a huge range of topics, including writing expressing your voice through online platforms, having deep nuanced conversations online, identity and what shapes us, understanding and unlearning our socialisation, activism and intentionality, the neutrality myth, save spaces versus brave spaces, as well as intersectional feminism and Liberatory Consciousness Framework. 

Today's episode is with Katherine Rose, a FCA graduate. Cam interviewed Katherine at the beginning of the pandemic lockdown, early in 2020. Together they talked about Katherine's experience in the pilot round and how she has begun integrating feminism into her business and her work as an intuitive coach and a copywriter. Katherine shares how she learned the importance of an inclusive feminist lens in our pilot round, plus a bit about why she was a little scared to join initially and how she broke free from that and has seen how necessary a feminist perspective is in her work and business. 

Cam interviews Nikki Haggett, one of the students and teachers of the Feminist Coach Academy, all about body liberation and feminism. Nikki shares about her background and how she came to be doing this work and what it's like to try and accept yourself when the world tells you that it's not okay to be in the body you're in. Cam and Nikki have a really rich conversation around body liberation, diet culture in feminism, the missing piece of the social justice lens and the ways we are socialised to lose trust with our bodies in the first place. Plus so much more. 

Welcome Season 2! In this episode, Cam and Nai dive deeper into the topic of feminist coaching: what it means, what it looks like, how it benefits you and more. This includes the importance of self-awareness and social awareness, feminist mindset and some real examples of ways this can show up in life, work, business and coaching. They discuss how not thinking about these things and not adopting a feminist mindset can reinforce systems of oppression for ourselves and for others. 

Cam dives into why the personal growth world needs a feminist analysis. There are some people out there trying to shake this up and bridge this social change and personal growth worlds, but so many of us aren't aware of that interconnection. 

Cam explores the concept of Feminist Bypassing, which is a term that has been influenced by the concept of Spiritual Bypassing. Cam gives a definition and some examples of both Spiritual and Feminist Bypassing, and dives deeper into the ways performativity can be problematic, as well as the importance of theory and practice when it comes to feminism. 

Naomi interviews coach and FCA member Sabrina Davis about all things overthinking, feminism and business. Sabrina shares her story of how she came to be doing work coaching overthinkers, as well as the ways overthinking can play out in business contexts. Naomi and Sabrina discuss how shifting from binary thinking to 'both and' thinking can help us get unstuck, as well as some of the tools Sabrina finds helpful in moving forward through overthinking. Plus, Sabrina tells us how being a member of the Feminist Coach Academy has supported her both personally and professionally. 

Connect with Sabrina and check out her 5 Day free video series 'Get Out of Your Head' at skyhighandbelieve.com or find her @skyhighandbelieve on Instagram 

Today's episode is a shorter one, and Nai talks about the very important technique and practice within coaching, healing and therapy of witnessing instead of fixing. So often we are taught to fix things, or we have a tendency to want to fix things, but not everything needs to be fixed. There is so much power and healing in giving things space, acknowledging and letting it be. Nai shares how and why this concept of witnessing is so valuable. 

Cam and Nai interview Dr. Laura Brown, author of Feminist Therapy. The creation of Feminist Coach Theory is partly based on Feminist Therapy and Dr. Laura's book. This is an interview from 2019 that we hope will give you insight into what feminist therapy is all about and the origins of Feminist Coach Theory as well. In this episode Dr. Laura shares with us all about feminist therapy and how it helps clients in both therapy and coaching, the characteristics of a feminist practitioner, the different feminist theories and how embracing ambiguity is part of reclaiming power. Plus so much more! 

Find more from Dr. Laura at her website drlaurabrown.com including services, books and writing, upcoming talks, and other recorded audio pieces. 

In this episode, Feminist Coach Academy co-founder Naomi Arnold explores the concept of power from the perspective of the four domains of personal power: somatic power, intrapersonal and intra-psychic power, interpersonal and social/contextual power, spiritual and existential power. 

The book Nai mentions in this episode, which is where these domains come from, is Feminist Therapy by Dr. Laura S Brown. Find out more at the website http://www.drlaurabrown.com 

In this episode, you will hear an interview that our Feminist Coach Academy co-founder Naomi Arnold did with Sharyn Holmes, one of the Advisory Board Members at the Feminist Coach Academy. Sharyn is also one of the guest teachers, and she is speaking on racial trauma and privilege, and how to be aware of this in your helping profession and business. Sharyn is a gusty leader, an anti-oppression consultant, a coach, artist, speaker and writer. 

Welcome to the Feminist Coach Academy Podcast, brought to you by Cam and Nai! In this episode, they introduce themselves, Feminist Coach Theory, and the Feminist Coach Academy. In this episode, Nai and Cam: 

•Give a professional and personal introduction of themselves 

•Share the story of how they met, became friends and clients/mentors of each other, and ended up collaborating together 

•Define Feminist Coach Theory, why it is important and why they are so passionate about it •Introduce the Feminist Coach Academy, what can be expected and how it came to be 

•Share the free resources they have created and plan to create for you