Listen to the episode Season 5 | Ep 77
On this episode of the Coaching Studio
Robert Biswas-Diener on Listening, Provocation, and Transformation
In this episode of The Coaching Studio, Lyssa deHart sits down with Dr. Robert Biswas-Diener, a global authority on positive psychology coaching and co-author of Radical Listening and Positive Provocation.
Known for his ability to ask provocative questions that shake us out of autopilot, Robert shares insights into how listening can be transformed into a practice of co-creating meaning. The conversation begins with Robert’s personal journey, how his global experiences shaped his perspective on culture, well-being, and human potential. He describes his curiosity for exploring the “edges” of coaching, where science meets creativity. Robert emphasizes that coaching, while young as a field, benefits when practitioners embrace evidence-based practices while still leaving room for surprise, experimentation, and creative interventions. A highlight of the discussion is Robert’s exploration of Radical Listening, which goes beyond the traditional “levels of listening” to include six key competencies: noticing, quieting, accepting, acknowledging, questioning, and interjecting.
He illustrates how these practices can deepen connection, foster transformation, and counteract the distractions of our noisy, fast-paced world. Robert also discusses the ideas from Positive Provocation, where he challenges coaches to reframe standard tools like homework into “experiments,” to view negative self-talk as potentially useful information, and to become aware of their own assumptions and self-limiting beliefs.
His invitation is for both coaches and therapists to balance rigor with creativity and to practice curiosity even in discomfort. The episode closes with a reflection on the future of coaching: a call for practitioners to embrace both science and art, and to dare to listen and provoke in ways that create genuine change.
Robert’s books – Go check them out!
Robert Biswas-Diener, Ph.D.
Dr. Robert Biswas-Diener is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading authorities on positive psychology coaching. Known for his bold curiosity and innovative approach, Robert has spent more than two decades researching, teaching, and challenging the coaching profession to grow both in scientific rigor and in creative experimentation.
He has published more than 70 scholarly articles and chapters and is the author of nine influential books, including Radical Listening (2025) and Positive Provocation: 25 Questions to Elevate Your Coaching Practice (2023). His groundbreaking work explores how practices such as radical listening, surprise interventions, and reframing self-talk can deepen connection and drive genuine transformation.
Robert’s career has taken him to 25 countries across six continents, where he has trained professionals, collaborated on global research, and gained a unique perspective on culture, well-being, leadership, and human potential. In 2024, he was named to the Coaches 50 list, recognizing him among the most influential executive coaches worldwide.
Equal parts scientist and storyteller, Robert is known for asking provocative questions that push beyond autopilot thinking. His work equips coaches and therapists alike to balance evidence-based practice with creative, client-centered interventions, shaping the future of coaching as both an art and a science.
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!
