Listen to the episode Season 5 | Ep 87
On this episode of the Coaching Studio
On this episode of the Coaching Studio, Tim Harrison, founder and CEO of the Coaching Innovation Lab, joins Lyssa deHart to explore what AI is changing in coaching, and what still requires a human being. Tim shares his path from Division I basketball into coaching and psychology, shaped by an early experience of being coached during a major identity shift. That origin story informs his focus on widening access to meaningful developmental support.
A core thread is scale without losing the human center. Tim describes building EPOG Academy and running into the practical limits of time and cost, then discovering how quickly AI could expand access when used thoughtfully. He argues that for many people the real comparison is not “AI vs. a human coach,” it’s “some support vs. none,” and he’s candid about the disruption that creates for the profession.
The conversation turns practical: how coaches can use AI without getting diluted. Tim shares what research suggests about AI’s “compression effect,” why authenticity matters (people want your voice, not generic polish), and why hybrid models are likely. He offers two frameworks coaches can apply immediately: his “Four A’s of Innovation” (automation, augmentation, amplification, adaptation) and a “Model T” mindset, rethinking the work rather than just bolting AI onto old workflows. The episode closes with Tim’s spoken word piece, “Final Slumber,” a reflection on mortality, meaning, and choosing a life that’s lived on purpose.
After playing Division 1 basketball and researching psychology at Rice University, Tim turned down a dream job in strategy consulting to pursue his mission: to inspire and equip people to realize their potential. Today, Tim fulfills that mission as a pioneer at the intersection of people development, entrepreneurship, and AI. As the founder of the Coaching Innovation Lab, he equips professionals and organizations to leverage AI effectively, authentically, and responsibly so they can increase their profits and impact.
About the Host
Lyssa deHart ditched her therapy practice to become a Leadership Confidence Coach. Along the way she discovered a passion for professional coaching and wanted to find ways to share that passion with the world. Come join her in discovering and meeting some of the most amazing professional coaches on the planet. Her goal is to inspire coaches. Lyssa is the author of Sticky Outcomes: at the Intersection of Coaching, Neuroscience, and Lasting Change, StoryJacking: Change Your Dialogue, Transform Your Life, The Reflective Coach - a 12 Month Journal, and Light Up: the Science of Coaching with Metaphors. Lyssa is an ICF MCC Coach, PCC Assessor, Certified Mentor Coach, and Coach SuperVisor. Lyssa uses her understanding of the ICF Core Competencies, combined with her knowledge of Neuroscience, to work with people to become extraordinary professional coaches. Let's Go!
