business

Coaches On The Couch

Hosted by Rachel Birchmore and Louise Rodgers · business · EN

About this Podcast:

Coaches On The Couch is the podcast from the coaches behind Step Up (stepuplondon.com) the leadership development programme for architects and built environment consultancies. Co-hosts Rachel Birchmore and Louise Rodgers bring their experience and knowledge of the sector and coaching insights to explore the world of work and progressive leadership through conversations with special guests.Our publication 'Learning from Lockdown' marking 12 months of the podcast is available at http://www.stepuplondon.com/shop/cotc-the-bookProduced by Aral Sea Sounds https://www.aralseaproductions.com/

Pitch Analysis

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Contact path

Public web form

Booking probability

33%

Guest openness

Selective

80/100

Required Score

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Questions about Coaches On The Couch

What is Coaches On The Couch about?

Coaches On The Couch is the podcast from the coaches behind Step Up the leadership development programme for architects and built environment consultancies. Co-hosts Rachel Birchmore and Louise Rodgers bring their experience and knowledge of the sector and coaching insights to explore the world of work and progressive leadership through conversations with special guests.

Who hosts Coaches On The Couch?

Coaches On The Couch is hosted by Rachel Birchmore and Louise Rodgers. The show has published 100 episodes to date.

What has Coaches On The Couch covered recently?

Recent episodes include "Russell Curtis, director of RCKa "There are obvious problems, that we all know about, and they need to be called out, and we need to do something about them."" (9 July 2026, 33 minutes), "Jonny Wong, director of dMFK. “"Self-awareness in leadership is not about introspection, it is about understanding the effect you have on others in the room."" (4 June 2026, 35 minutes), and "Pauline Blanchet, founder of Aral Sea Productions, Cumberland Lodge Fellow and producer of COTC. “I have always been interested in built environment megaprojects and how they impact communities.”" (7 May 2026, 31 minutes).

How often does Coaches On The Couch publish?

Coaches On The Couch publishes roughly every two weeks, with episodes averaging 32 minutes across 100 episodes.

How hard is it to get booked on Coaches On The Couch?

Booking probability for Coaches On The Couch is 33%, and the host is rated Selective on guests. Coaches On The Couch requires a Pod Score of 80 or higher. Coaches On The Couch's contact route on record: public web form.

Who should pitch Coaches On The Couch?

The strongest fits for Coaches On The Couch are Architecture & Engineering. Coaches On The Couch has a business audience.

About the host

Rachel Birchmore and Louise Rodgers hosts Coaches On The Couch, a business podcast with 100 episodes published.

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Recent episodes

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

Episode #8
Russell Curtis, director of RCKa "There are obvious problems, that we all know about, and they need to be called out, and we need to do something about them."
Jul 9, 202633 minS10
Rachel, Louise and Russell talk about the power of being provocative, weathering a ‘lumpy’ market, and finding joy in challenging times. Coaches On The Couch is co-hosted by Louise Rodgers and Rachel Birchmore who are...
Show Notes
Episode #7
Jonny Wong, director of dMFK. “"Self-awareness in leadership is not about introspection, it is about understanding the effect you have on others in the room."
Jun 4, 202635 minS10
Louise and Rachel chat self-awareness with Jonny Wong of dMFK and he shares how learning more about himself, his immediate colleagues and the role they each play in the team, supports the business to grow itself and...
Show Notes
Episode #6
Pauline Blanchet, founder of Aral Sea Productions, Cumberland Lodge Fellow and producer of COTC. “I have always been interested in built environment megaprojects and how they impact communities.”
May 7, 202631 minS10
As Rachel and Louise approach the 100th episode of the podcast, they talk to its producer Pauline Blanchet about the intersection of film-making and built environment leadership as explored through Coaches On The...
Show Notes
Episode #5
Sean Hatcher, creative director of MCM "Part of my role is to develop and propagate not only creativity and ideas but also our people."
Apr 16, 202630 minS10
Sean Hatcher of MCM talks to Louise and Rachel about the ‘sliding door’ moments of his early career and how creativity is faring in a world of major disruptors, such as AI and globalisation. Coaches...
Show Notes
Episode #4
Rachel Birchmore, coach and co-host "These four new services… are all to do with the way we coach and the theme that links them together is ‘humanity’.”
Mar 26, 202631 minS10
Louise and Rachel introduce the four new strands of specialist coaching they are now offering, aimed at tackling the barriers to people not just surviving, but thriving, at work. 
Show Notes

Episode #3
Chris Bryant, co-founder of Alma-nac “Behavioural change is the missing piece in the architects’ toolkit. It should be the starting point, rather than an afterthought."
Mar 13, 202631 minS10
Chris Bryant of alma-nac explains to Rachel and Louise what the practice discovered about behavioural change when it applied architectural thinking to a project aimed at making schools more energy-efficient...
Show Notes
Episode #2
Nathan Spencer, MD of UKREiif “The culture we have created makes people want to remain in the business for the long term. We are proud to have a team that is sticking together.”
Feb 19, 202627 minS10
The first episode of 2026 features Louise and Rachel in conversation with Nathan Spencer, Managing Director of UKREiif. They chat about his leadership journey; the values that underpin the culture of the...
Show Notes
Episode #1
Seb Wood "The core of reflection is to have a form of honesty with yourself, and honesty about the situation you are in".
Dec 11, 202533 minS10
For the last podcast of the year, Rachel and Louise are joined by Seb Wood, of international engineering firm Whitby Wood, for a chat about the importance of reflection for leadership, and for life. There is also a...
Show Notes
Episode #10
Sarah Wigglesworth, Architect. “I felt that architecture had crowded out so many other things in my life and I was eager to try to explore all the things I had pushed away.”
Nov 27, 202535 minS9
In conversation with Rachel and Louise is Sarah Wigglesworth, MBE, who reflects on the 2023 closure of her eponymous practice and shares how she continues to build on that legacy, including through her work with Part...
Show Notes
Episode #9
Rachel Birchmore, AreBe and Step Up. “Changing the way we plan meetings so that people get a moment between them can give the brain time to reset. There is no reason why meetings need to be an hour.”
Nov 7, 202525 minS9
Louise and Rachel talk books! Some nuggets from books they have been reading (on their respective couches of course); from the neuroscience of resting the brain, to the benefit of talking to horses, via the Let Them...
Show Notes
Episode #8
Chloe Phelps, founder of Grounded Architects and director of BPTW. "It was an opportunity to still be a small, nimble, female-led practice, but with some clout behind us."
Oct 16, 202527 minS9
Chloe Phelps, director of BPTW, discusses her journey to this role, via her own practice, Grounded. She tells Rachel and Louise why she made the decision to become part of BPTW, what difference being part of a larger...
Show Notes
Episode #7
Ken Shuttleworth, founder and director of Make Architects. “I wanted people to benefit from the profitability of the company from the start.”
Oct 2, 202534 minS9
Ken Shuttleworth of Make Architects reflects on his 50 year (and counting) career in architecture and chats with Louise and Rachel about not having his name above the door; founding one of the first EOTs in the...
Show Notes
Episode #6
Carl Turner, founding director of Turner Works. “Growing the practice and bringing in more people was part of a strategy for me to be less involved in the day-to-day."
Sep 11, 202534 minS9
Carl Turner, founder of Turner Works, talks to Rachel and Louise about the thinking behind his year-long sabbatical. How did he prepare for it, what did he do with it, and what’s next for Turner Works?<br...
Show Notes
Episode #5
Binki Taylor, community activator and placemaker. “Belonging for me is an important topic...indeed it's been a life-long enquiry.”
Aug 7, 202530 minS9
Louise and Rachel chat with Binki Taylor, community activator and placemaker, about the importance of belonging and the role it plays in all our lives. Binki shares her personal quest for belonging and how it has...
Show Notes
Episode #4
Amandeep Singh Kalra, Greenflip “I was wedded to the idea of solving a problem, not fixated on a particular solution.”
Jul 24, 202533 minS9
Rachel picks up the theme of starting something new in this conversation with architect Amandeep Singh Kalra, founder of Greenflip Homes. The two discuss how Amandeep’s commitment to fighting climate change fuelled...
Show Notes
Episode #3
Gareth Atkinson, Civic “There was a strategic approach but also some happy coincidences, based on exploring who would be a good fit and aligned with our values.”
Mar 20, 202534 minS9
In this episode Rachel and Louise discuss with three directors of Civic (Gareth Atkinson, Katrina Davis and Rob Harris) how they are using collaboration and diversification to make a bigger and better contribution to...
Show Notes
Episode #2
Andy Puncher, design director "It was about identifying what I wanted to do and where I wanted to be and there was no role out there on any of the job sites for that, so I had to invent it."
Feb 27, 202527 minS9
Another in a series of conversations with guests who have moved away from a practice they founded, or co-founded, and onto something new. Andy Puncher formerly of pH+ talks to Rachel about reinvention and...
Show Notes
Episode #1
Aga Szedzianis, DSDHA “Since 2016, the mid-level career or associate salaries dropped by 25%... quite a big drop!”
Feb 13, 202543 minS9
Rachel and Louise are joined by a couchful of architects from DSDHA, nimtim architects, Morris + Company and Ackroyd Lowrie to explore architects’ pay and fees and the implications for practice leaders.<br...
Show Notes
Episode #10
Miranda MacLaren, Director of Orms “When you first arrive, you just have to really listen”
Jan 30, 202533 minS8
John McRae, Director of Orms, rejoins the virtual couch four years on from his first visit and this time with new Orms Director, Miranda MacLaren. The conversation with Rachel and Louise explores practice resilience...
Show Notes
Episode #9
Hari Phillips, co-founder of Bell Phillips Architects. "It doesn't seem like the really big names in the profession want to rock the boat and speak out about these important issues."
Dec 19, 202437 minS8
A second conversation with a founder who has taken the decision to step away. Hari Phillips discusses his new found freedom to speak up, including about the state of the profession and the communications barrier...
Show Notes

Recent guests

Recent guests on Coaches On The Couch. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

Russell Curtis

director, RCKa Architects

Chris Bryant

Labour MP, former minister, chair of the Committee on Standards, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

Nathan Spencer

Senior Strength and Conditioning Coach, St George Illawarra Dragons

Carl Turner

founder, Expat Tax Thailand

Best industries to pitch Coaches On The Couch for

PitchCentric classifies Coaches On The Couch under these industries. Guests from them are the closest fit, and each links to the best podcasts in that industry.

Architecture & Engineering

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