Coaching Through Stories

About Coaching Through Stories

High performing leaders are able to be their best when it matters the most. This bi-weekly, Wednesday podcast provides listeners with stories, research, and interviews that spark connection between people, concepts, thoughts, and behaviors. Dr. Eric Bean, a published peer-reviewed author, and Certified Mental Performance Coach, coaches listeners through stories from mythology, current events, research, and popular literature that serve as a window into high performance and powerful leadership. Dr. Bean brings in thought leaders from various fields like business, sport, and military to give listeners tips and strategies from their own experiences. His goal is to provide you with practical tools you can use to become a more resilient and adaptable leader and reach your leadership potential.

Publisher

Eric Bean

Category

business · education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

14 Apr 2020

Latest episode

15 Oct 2025

Latest episodes

1 of 71 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   15 Oct 2025

   #70: The Hidden Cost of Cognitive Overload and Ways to Overcome It

   Ever feel like your brain is just… full? Emails ping, notifications pile up, meetings blur together, and suddenly you miss something small but important. It’s not a lack of care; it’s cognitive overload. In this solo episode, Dr. Eric Bean unpacks what happens when our mental “jar” overflows. Listen as he explores how cognitive overload quietly erodes performance, decision-making, and even empathy.  Through neuroscience, psychology, and practical tools, Dr. Bean reveals simple ways to reclaim focus, reduce mental fatigue, and perform at your best without burning out. Key Takeaways: Understanding cognitive load: How constant task-switching, multitasking, and stress reduce your brain’s capacity for clear thinking. The science of overload Inner game strategies: The Parking Lot, Mind the Margins, and Mindful Monotasking What high-pressure environments reveal about decision fatigue The real cost of mental overload Highlights: [00:23] What is cognitive load? [01:02] Understanding context in performance environments [03:10] How overload contributes to diagnostic mistakes [06:18] What happens when working memory is maxed out [06:55] The myth of multitasking [08:15] How overload impacts decision-making and creativity [10:16] Inner vs. outer game of performance [11:12] The Parking Lot technique [12:24] Protecting margins and mental space [13:36] Reducing context switching and attention residue [14:48] Pause and eliminate interruptions [16:10] Building transition routines between meetings [16:47] Integrating micro resets into daily habits Resources: Deep Work by Cal Newport – on focus, flow, and eliminating distraction Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman – understanding system 1 and system 2 thinking Connect with Us: Subscribe on [Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify] Follow Dr. Eric Bean on [LinkedIn] and [Website] Share your reflections or insights with #CoachingThroughStories.

2. 

   1 Oct 2025

   #69: Don’t Wait for the Perfect Moment: A CEO’s Guide to Bold Moves with Carrie Jones

   In this episode of Coaching Through Stories, Dr. Eric Bean sits down with Carrie Jones, CEO and co-founder of Mari + Gold, a San Diego–based PR, social media, and creative agency serving hospitality, tourism, and lifestyle brands. Carrie shares her journey from growing up in Napa Valley’s hospitality world to leading a mission-driven agency that thrives on people, culture, and bold but intentional decision-making. For Carrie, bold moves aren’t reckless — they’re about clarity, courage, and aligning with your values. You’ll hear how she reframes fear into fuel, why vulnerability creates trust, and how leaders can balance ambition with authenticity while building high-performing teams. Key Takeaways: Lead with loyalty. How loyalty becomes powerful when paired with purpose. Use the power of pause to avoid frozen indecision. Why “the answer is no until you ask” is advice every young leader needs The “power of pause” and how it unlocks confident decision-making What it means to put people first without neglecting your own oxygen mask Measure risk by appetite and threshold Why complacency is creativity’s killer — and how to lean into discomfort Culture beats rules when it’s intentional Highlights: [01:33] Opening with a hard question about what’s lighting Carrie up [03:02] Mari & Gold: niche, people-first marketing agency built from agency roots [05:00] Three defining moments that shaped her leadership [08:06] Loyalty with purpose, not just blindly following and doing it [09:49] Competition framed positively: win for progress, not at the expense of culture [11:26] Purpose shift: success now includes family, presence, and sustainable company building [12:00] “Put your oxygen mask on first.” [13:40] Creating an environment that drives purpose [15:19] Work–life integration and the remote challenge [16:25] Leadership evolution: flexibility, adaptability, and the reality of CEO responsibility [20:41] What is the power of pause? [24:34] Leaving stable roles to build service lines and take risky but intentional moves. [26:08] Autonomy + clear processes + managers = confident, fast teams [28:22] “The answer is no until you ask.” [29:44] Money is just dollars and cents, take out the emotion [31:41] Complacency vs. comfort: how leaning back out of fear kills creativity [32:09] Zoom out and focus on where you put your attention and intention [35:07] Creativity redefined [36:42] Yes, and” culture at Mari & Gold [38:00] Using tech as a tool for efficiency without replacing critical human thinking [44:21] Carrie's responsibility as a CEO when it comes to culture [47:27] Core values: Own Your Future, Partner Generously, Make It Better [49:26] The idea of excellence [52:28] Leadership advice to her younger self [59:04] Identifying the non-negotiables in the calendar blocking Learn more about Carrie Jones and Mari&Gold: Website: https://mariandgold.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonescarrie/ Are you ready to lead with boldness and purpose? Connect with us at HigherEchelon.com

3. 

   17 Sept 2025

   #68: Caring, Communication, and Consistency: Building Meaningful Leadership with Dr. Leon Moores

   In this episode of Coaching Through Stories, Dr. Eric Bean sits down with Dr. Leon Moores, pediatric neurosurgeon, former U.S. Army infantry officer, and author of All Physicians Lead: Redefining Physician Leadership for Better Patient Outcomes. Dr. Moores combines lessons from combat and the operating room to show why healthcare leadership is more than just the titles. His approach is rooted in what he calls the “three Cs” principles that shape trust, improve teamwork, and ultimately drive better outcomes for patients. In their conversation, Dr. Moores shares the high school moment that set him on a new path, the challenges of leading in medicine, and why compassion and objectivity are not opposites but partners. He also reflects on how every physician is a leader, whether they recognize it or not, and why culture and trust are just as critical in the OR as they are on the battlefield. Key Takeaways: Why every physician is a leader, regardless of title or role How compassion and empathy strengthen objectivity instead of weakening it Differences and similarities of being a leader and a surgeon Importance of adapting leadership styles across the clinic, OR, and boardroom The “three Cs” of leadership: caring, communication, and consistency Building psychological safety and trust in high-stakes environments Highlights: [01:15] From infantry officer to pediatric neurosurgeon [03:00] Why leadership isn’t limited to those with formal titles [05:14] A random high school moment that changed everything [07:49] Physicians as leaders in every patient interaction [09:56] The role of his family in the "Team First" mentality [11:58] The emotional side of pediatric neurosurgery [15:23] Greater comfort with emotional distance [16:50] Having empathy and compassion without losing objectivity and skill set [20:03] The differences and similarities between being a leader and a surgeon [25:02] Why healthcare requires collaboration and adaptability [30:43] The “three Cs” of leadership: caring, communication, and consistency [33:17] “All Physicians Lead”: redefining leadership in medicine [36:16] How culture and teamwork shape outcomes [41:13] Improving leadership skills = Improving patient's experience and outcomes [46:05] Things that build or break down a culture [49:10] Influence and empathy drive the behavior of trust and confidence [50:48] Active dismissiveness vs Passive dismissiveness [54:56] A powerful story of persistence and teamwork in the OR Learn more about Dr. Leon Moores: Website: https://www.inova.org/doctors/leon-e-moores-md Book: All Physicians Lead: Redefining Physician Leadership for Better Patient Outcomes LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leon-moores-383b651b/ Are you seeking to enhance your leadership abilities? Contact us at HigherEchelon.com (http://higherechelon.com/)

Inside a recent episode

#62: Stories that Move Minds: Insights on Storytelling with Andrea Sampson

Published 25 Jun 2025 · Transcript excerpt

[…] When I'm working with leaders, one of the first things that I always say this is to be a leader, you need to be a professional communicator. Like if we think of any leader, you know, any role that's a leadership role, the likelihood is there were probably dozens, maybe hundreds of other people up for that same role. Why did that one person get that role versus somebody else? And likely it's because they could communicate better. And so they've done lots of things, but so has all of those other candidates for that role. It's the way in which communicated those things, so that the listener, the interviewer, the decider could hear it in a way that was impactful. […]

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

66 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 48 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

65

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

77