Coaching Success Story: Michael Brasher

Michael Brasher, PhD, is a leadership coach specializing in men’s emotional intelligence, relational growth, and breaking generational cycles. With a doctorate focused on power, conflict, and transformation, he helps men develop the self-awareness, emotional mastery, and communication skills they need to lead—at work, in their families, and in their communities.
Michael’s coaching blends deep inner work with practical leadership strategies, guiding men to unlearn outdated conditioning, heal unresolved emotional wounds, and show up with confidence in every area of life. Whether coaching high-performing executives, fathers striving to be more present, or men navigating personal transitions, he helps his clients step into leadership that is both powerful and deeply human.
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Website: www.lifeunboundcoaching.com
Free Breaking the Cycle Quiz for Dads: https://michael-kheoaxc7.scoreapp.com
Book Club Waitlist: https://michael-8rog9g6j.scoreapp.com

Michael, tell me your name. Title, location, business name. Introduce yourself.

01:15 Michael Brasher, PhD, CPIC Okay. I'm Dr. Michael Brasher, founder of Life Unbound Coaching, based in Tucson, Arizona. I specialize in helping men break intergenerational cycles, cultivate emotional intelligence, and lead with authenticity.

How long ago did you answer the call to coach?

01:37 Michael Brasher, PhD, CPIC You know, it's a great question. I think in a lot of ways I've been coaching for a whole lot of years, but the real moment that I answered the call, um, was when I was a CEO in another life, running a healthy masculinity nonprofit. And I was super overwhelmed in my work, having a lot of highs and lows and burnout, and I took some great advice to get my own coach. And it was so impactful for me, and it really began to give me a vision of how I could use coaching to help the men I was working with, and to change not just their lives, but the lives of their families, communities, partners. And I really realized that coaching is what I was meant to do.

What do you feel contributed to your success in the coaching profession?

02:37 Michael Brasher, PhD, CPIC Yeah, a few things, I think. First, I bring a deep understanding of power, conflict and reconciliation from my PhD studies, and that really helps me to guide clients through meaningful transformations. I also have a background in anti-violence work with men, and it's really helpful. Second, I don't just coach, but I really try to actively live this work, make it my mission. We have this saying, which is we are the work, which is to really try to, in my own life, in my own body and my own parenting, live the work that all of my clients are aspiring towards as well. And third, I think I've been really intentional about who I work with. I don't take on just everybody. I work with men specifically who are really, truly ready for change. And that's helped to create a level of demand and quality that helps me to keep my practice full.

Looking back, how did your training at the institute shape your success?

04:03 Michael Brasher, PhD, CPIC Yeah, I mean, it's been really huge in my success. The Institute for Integrative Intelligence didn't just teach me coaching skills. I would say it taught me how to be an effective space holder for deep and lasting change. It helped me to really refine my ability to make sure that I'm actually asking the right questions. That I'm challenging clients in ways that actually fosters growth and truly empowering them to take ownership of their own transformation. And I think just like the emphasis on embodiment and emotional intelligence, embodied intelligence, that is so key specifically for the work that I do with men. Right. So many times men are really disconnected from their feeling self, the wisdom of their feelings, the wisdom of their body and its responses. And so getting training and specifically how to support clients to really tap into all of these sources of intelligence we have. I think it's made my work with men in particular a lot better.

How does it feel to be a successful coach?

05:19 Michael Brasher, PhD, CPIC I would say it's humbling. You know, and I know you know this, Joe, right. Like, coaching isn't just a job, it's a responsibility. And so for me, you know, when a man sits across from me and he starts unpacking years of generational pain, I don't take that lightly. You know, there's, he's taking a lot of risks. There's a lot of pressure on men not to tell the truth to themselves and others about how they're feeling. But it's also, it's so rewarding to see those men go on a journey of stepping into their power, redefining their relationships and creating a new legacy for themselves and their family. So I would just say it's something that I take really seriously and I'm so grateful that I get to do it.

Do you have any advice for someone considering entering into the coaching profession?

06:17 Michael Brasher, PhD, CPIC Yeah, I do a couple of things. I do think on the one hand, you know, something I already talked about, but it's doing our own inner work. I think the best coaches aren't just skilled at asking questions, but they embody what they teach. And embodying what we teach also helps us to have great intuition. We can relate to our clients. Right. Because I understand my own point in that journey. So it makes us more effective. So that's one. And I think the second thing I would say is just to build demand for our coaching practices in an intentional way. You know, it's what I said above. Above. Part of my learning journey, right. Is that I shouldn't try to coach everybody. Right. There are some people that want to come to me for coaching and it's not a good fit and it's important for me to know that. And so my advice would be find your niche, be excellent in your little small field and let your results speak for themselves. And I think when people see that you're in a focused area and you're getting real transformation, then you're never going to have to chase clients. Right. People will come to you.

If you were to come up with one word that describes your experience as a successful coach, what would it be?

07:37 Michael Brasher, PhD, CPIC I would say transformational.

07:47 Michael Brasher, PhD, CPIC Yeah. Transformational.

What prompted you to seek an education in coaching?

08:06 Michael Brasher, PhD, CPIC Well, you know, I had already been doing a lot of it informally. I was mentoring, guiding. I had a lot of young men that I met regularly just to be a support person in their lives and help them on their goals. I was doing a lot of leadership development and training, but really I wanted to sharpen my skills, so that I could have a greater impact and ultimately create a business that was both fulfilling and financially sustainable. And so that's really what motivated me to go ahead and get formally educated in coaching.

As a graduate, looking back, what do you think you've gained?

08:47 Michael Brasher, PhD, CPIC I think beyond just the skills, I've gained clarity in my own mission, and a coaching practice that is growing. I built a business where I get to wake up every day and do the work that I care the most about with people that I love doing it with. And so I think just a lot of meaning. Yeah.

What do you think about the approach that the Institute for Integrative Intelligence takes? What would you say is your favorite part?

09:24 Michael Brasher, PhD, CPIC Um, I think that the institute goes beyond just teaching coaching techniques which is really important. You know, but it really teaches you how to accompany people through transformation. And I think that's more than just sort of like, yeah, the technical aspects, but it's what I said earlier, it's about holding space. And I think that's really something that it is the difference between an average coach and a truly impactful one.

What would you tell someone who is watching this and unsure about taking the next step?

10:07 Michael Brasher, PhD, CPIC Yeah, I mean if you feel the pull towards coaching, trust it. You know, the world needs more skilled, heart centered coaches. And I think also like be prepared to commit to go all in on it. It's, you know, it's not just learning the coaching skills, but it's the personal growth and it's a commitment to building a business that is truly going to be successful.

Are there any current programs that you're offering or any part of your coaching practice that you would love to share? Anything you want to say works?

​10:42 Michael Brasher, PhD, CPIC Yeah. Um, yep, yep. So I think, you know, if, if first, if my work resonates with you, I'd love to stay connected. And so I would invite folks to follow me on Instagram or TikTok at Life Unbound Coaching. And what I do on those channels is I share a lot of free insight on how families can integrate healthy masculinity, emotional healing and gender equity into everyday life. I think if you're curious about how you're showing up in your own intergenerational impact, especially when it comes to masculinity and identity, I have a free intergenerational impact assessment. So it's a short little quiz. You can take it, it scores you on a few areas and it will give you a customized support on what you can do to improve in your life and in your relationships. One other last thing I want to mention. If you ever want to dive even deeper into any of these topics in community, I run a regular book club. And it's on a book called the Will to Change Men, Masculinity and Love by Bell Hooks. And so in that group we explore how to create real shifts in masculinity and relationships. And I have a wait list. So if it's something you're interested, then you can join