In this episode, men’s coach Andrew Mundy shares his powerful journey from working in corrections to going all-in on a purpose-driven coaching business. We explore the inner transformation sparked by fatherhood, the challenges of betting on yourself, and the deep work of helping men reconnect with their shame, and ultimately their truth.
In this episode of The Deep Coach, we’re joined by Andrew Mundy—a men’s coach who left behind a career in corrections to follow his deeper calling. If you’ve ever felt the pull toward a different life, this conversation will show you what it really takes to bet on yourself, trust your purpose, and go all in with coaching.
Andrew opens up about his journey from structure to surrender, from performance to presence. We talk about fatherhood, shame, men’s work, and the deeper transformation that happens when you begin living from the inside out.
The Deep Coaching Podcast
Episode 8: Andrew Mundy: Shame, Masculinity, and the Courage to Choose a New Life
Andrew Mundy: I don't have to be anybody else but myself, and who I am as an individual is a powerful individual, even in that time period, what it really showed me was I could be strong, I could be weak, I could be courageous, I could be, scared. It doesn't matter.
I'm still the same person.
Welcome to the Deep Coach, the podcast where we explore the transformational journeys that shape us and that propel us to change the world. I'm your host, Jonathan Hermida, and in each episode we sit down with those who have journeyed into the depths of spiritual transformation and who are now reshaping the world through their presence and their work.
In listening to these incredible human beings, you'll find insight, inspiration, and practical tools that'll support your journey as a coach and as a human being.
Jonathan Hermida: Andrew, how would you describe who Andrew Mundy was prior to the onset of your transformational journey? Um.
Andrew Mundy: I would say that, there was always a energy of positivity, [00:01:00] to how I was being in the world. I played basketball growing up and I wouldn't say I played at the highest of levels, but I was very dedicated to it. So, you know, I think I had that sort of natural athletic of if you have goals, and you work towards 'em, you'll achieve them.
I had that, from an early age. so I would say that I brought a lot of that energy to the world, just that like positivity, that openness, that, discipline as well. Those were all sort of characteristics that I brought. And I think that one of the things that I wouldn't necessarily say was lacking, but there was definitely, there was still an energy of I don't really have control of my life, like the world dictates what is possible for me, and and I think that kind of showed up through the schooling system. And then, yeah, like even into to the university years, like it felt yes, I definitely have power to create things, but it's in a box in a way.
Jonathan Hermida: Yeah. Yeah.
What would you say you [00:02:00] most struggled with as a young man?
Andrew Mundy: I'm trying to find like one key area. I think that there was, just a desire to be liked, especially, my childhood was pretty rocky and moved around a lot and, I feel like probably, yeah, there was just a desire to be liked, a desire to get things right, and definitely like an embarrassment of, oh, like, let's say I asked a girl out and it didn't go well, like I would be embarrassed, not only would I be embarrassed like my friends group or people in my school, for example, like they would know, kind of thing. So coming back to that place of really, there's that concept of the nice guy, like I was the nice guy. I was the guy that was, I got along with everybody but maybe didn't really necessarily always stand up for myself.
Jonathan Hermida: And how did that influence the decision making process going into college and choosing a career? Was that sort of in the forefront? Was that influential in how you chose your next steps?
Andrew Mundy: it's funny. I would say [00:03:00] no. Maybe there was some sort of a, period there a slight, shift where, I knew that stepping, like stepping from high school to university, like this was my domain. This was my life in that sense. And, I specifically can remember, 'cause I took a year off from high school to university.
I had that sort of gap year. And I can remember my grandma was furious, she was like, what are you doing? You're ruining your life. And, but I knew, you know, I took that year off. Um, I was trying out for a college basketball team, so I wanted to get my skillset better. And, I wanted that time for myself, and then I knew that I kind, I just knew that university was gonna be for me. At this point, there's nobody taking care of me. It's me going forward and creating my life. So I think that, maybe there was a slight transition into adulthood, we'll say, but it least in that area, the people pleasing, approval seeking tendencies started to fade away.
Jonathan Hermida: Yeah. Yeah. So interesting. Yeah. There, there's, uh, the shift sometimes from high school [00:04:00] to college, it, it feels like a fresh start. There's new people, new environment. You can kind of redefine yourself, you know, so there's a, a fresh start aspect to it.
Andrew Mundy: Absolutely.
Jonathan Hermida: Oftentimes.
How did you end up in corrections?
Andrew Mundy: so initially I was, I was looking a way, I was wanting to go into policing. That's what I went to university for. And, a part of it was procastination You know, I, I. Didn't get my applications, done in a timely manner to get into the police department. So not that opportunity went away, but it was easier to get into corrections.
And it's funny, like thinking back on it, so policing in Canada, least in that time as well, like it was harder to get into, probably at 21, 22 years old, probably wouldn't accept you. They would want somebody with more life experience. But going into the corrections department, that was the, like the in the middle spot, right?
The, hey, we'll take you kind of thing. And like the, a part of also going into corrections, for me it was almost like a test, right? So the nice guy tendencies, the approval seeking. Aspects of myself, knowing that I wanted to go into this law enforcement career, I knew that I'd have to toughen up.
So what better environment to put myself in than into the, into a correctional facility?
Jonathan Hermida: In what ways did it toughen you up?
Andrew Mundy: I think that, again, so I started as a correction officer when I was 22 out of university. So you think about that, like you're going from a US University dynamic and like I was even, I went to a Tony Robbins event, that year example. So you think about that, it's like all this like possibility and creation happening in, in this side.
And then I'm stepping into this world where it's this is like the underside of the world, this is like the real darkness. So it was like, When you talk about that toughening up aspect, it's yeah, like you, you [00:06:00] adapt, you really adapt to the environment. And again, like for example, like when I was 22 years old, my job was basically like I would be working on a prison unit with 40 men. So 22-year-old who's basically like in responsible for the safety and security of 40 grown men, who are criminals. I think naturally it just. it, it showed me, I guess in a way, like some of the realities of the world, in this sort of dark way. But it actually made me get more tactically sound too, right?
I had to develop communication skills. I had to be able to read people, I had to be able to understand like communication dynamics because when you're in an environment with 40 people, if you're not gonna be tough enough or, have enough, martial arts skills or use of force skills to get out of that environment unless you're tactically sound.
Jonathan Hermida: Was there ever a sticky environment that you found yourself in that situation?
Andrew Mundy: So [00:07:00] yes, overall I was very fortunate, in my, in the eight years that I worked there. But yeah, like even so when I was 23, like in Canada how it works is that, if you have, offenders that are on remand, so let's say somebody's committed a crime and they, they haven't been sentenced yet, so they could be like a federal offender, somebody who's done like major crimes, but they'll be in a provincial facility or they'll be in what I would say the equivalent of is like a state facility, right?
So what then happens is you've got this like melting pot of you've got some people that are like. They haven't really done a lot to, you've got these hardcore criminals and there was, there was, just even at that time there was, an individual that I, I'm interacting with this guy every day, and this guy was a pretty dangerous individual.
And so it was scary. Like it was probably in the eight years that I was working there, one of the most tense times because I was in [00:08:00] that environment every day trying to keep the peace in this space.
Jonathan Hermida: And did anything ever break out with him?
Andrew Mundy: in, no, yes and nothing, yes, there was, but he got moved to a segregation unit basically.
Jonathan Hermida: got it. Okay. Okay, so then what? What.
Andrew Mundy: when I was there though.
Jonathan Hermida: Sure. Sure.
So then what was the decision to finally leave corrections and go into, I believe sales and marketing right.
Andrew Mundy: Yeah. So it was a couple of things. One, I think, at about the seven year mark, we'll say, I mean I was always looking to get out. That's the thing I was looking for. Hey, what could be the business opportunity or the thing that could, be the next transition?
'cause that was never what I wanted to do for a lifelong career. But so there was that aspect of it just Hey, are my options? What is the transition that could get me out of the environments? And then, there was a time in the, in the facility where there was a political issue that occurred and, there was an incident, some officers got fired. And like the [00:09:00] experience that was basically like if I was there that day on that shift, that would've been me. And so what that really showed me is I'm not really in control of my life. Like I'm not really in control of my career. And if I was there and I didn't have a plan, an exit plan or that type of thing, all of a sudden I've lost my income, I've lost my benefits, and I'm out on the street kind of
Right?
And so it was combination of the two. One of just I, I was ready to transition into something different and I saw the writing on the wall,
Jonathan Hermida: Sure. Yeah. Yeah. What was happening inside of yourself during this time? What was your inner landscape like during this period in time?
Andrew Mundy: I would definitely say it was a transition period, it was like, it was knowing that I. making the moves. I'm leaving this environment that I've been in for eight years that I know and it's familiar to me. And I had been building skills, right? [00:10:00] One of the benefits of working in a correctional facility is if you're working night shift, you can do a lot of learning.
You could do whatever, some people watch tv, some people read books and you can do a lot of learning. And so I took that time to build copywriting skills. I knew enough to see hey, what could be a viable, business that could actually get me out of here?
And so again, coming back to what you're asking like a period of transition. And at that specific point, I would say there was power. There was. Confidence, I've got this, I don't know. I don't know where life is gonna be going from here, but like I can trust myself.
Jonathan Hermida: Okay. You can trust yourself and what gave you that, that trust and confidence?
Andrew Mundy: Good question. I feel like it was everything that I had done in life to that point. Even like you talk [00:11:00] about playing basketball again, it's like I, I played basketball for,
Jonathan Hermida: I.
Andrew Mundy: I don't know, seven years. And a mentality there. It's again, you just come back to that place of you put in the work, you put in the effort.
Like things get created. And I think that's the mentality that's carried with me in life to that point is that I'm not the smartest person. I'm not, the best looking person. I'm not the most charismatic person in the world, but the one skillset that I have is the ability to generate momentum and consistency.
And and I've seen that in my entire life. Whether it's been in playing basketball or getting jobs or, in learning and developments or, attracting my wife. It's if you put in the effort and you stay consistent with it, things will get created. And so I think like it's neat to speak to it because that sort of feeds into that trust and confidence over time.
Jonathan Hermida: Yeah. Yeah, I can see that. So you were on this external journey going from [00:12:00] basketball to university to career, eventually meeting your wife, your now wife.
When did that inner spark to go deeper inside of yourself, what was that inner spark for you?
Andrew Mundy: Yeah, there was a moment where, really when my son was born, so my son was born in April of 2017, and I would say, there was a five year period there. Again, I was working corrections, things weren't necessarily all going the way that I wanted to in life. And I felt defeated at, up at that point.
Of course, I was showing up in life. I was still going to work, I was still doing things. But overall, there's this feeling of like hopelessness of defeat, and. One of the things that I would numb that with was playing video games. It's checked out, right? Yeah, I go to work, I do all the things that you need to do in life, but ultimately, like I'd just play video games to get some excitement in life, for example.
And when my son was born in 2017, was really interesting because remember in the first week that he was born, [00:13:00] again, still showing up, still doing all the things that we needed to do, but there was sort of this desire in me to like, Hey, I want to go play this video game when my wife and my son are sleeping. And there was a specific moment where I was like, okay, going on here? You have a new son and there's two paths here, right? There's the one path of you continue to just play video games and like half show up in life that's gonna have an impact. know that that could still be good enough.
Like I could still be fine even if I was to do that. But there was this other side of me that was like, what kind of example is that? What kind of example are you actually setting for, your son where it's like you're just showing up half-assed in life, you're just showing up 50%. Yeah, sure. I could get away with that for a couple of years, but eventually gonna see it, and it's definitely gonna have an impact in our family along the road.
And so was a pretty pivotal, that was the [00:14:00] moment where I was just like, things have to change. Things have to get better from here.
Jonathan Hermida: In that moment where things have to get better from here, what were some of the first landing spots that you landed on in terms of resources and outlets?
Andrew Mundy: I'm hesitant to say, but
Jonathan Hermida: This is all about.
Andrew Mundy: But at the same time it's yeah, I'll put in there.
So the first person I actually came across at that time was Grant Cardone.
Jonathan Hermida: Okay, and tell me why. Why are you hesitant to share, say, grant?
Andrew Mundy: he's got a bit of a reputation out there as is being a bit of a, slimy, unrealistic individual.
But I will say, he, he's got some, he's got a book called the, I think it's called the 10 x Factor. Like at that time it was, it like that, and there was other resources I had as well, or I was coming across, but it was just even reading that book, right, it was just like, oh, like this guy sees life differently.
There's something to this where it's he's just willing to put himself out there. He's willing to put himself out in the world and really if anything, [00:15:00] claim what he wants. was, so that was, it's funny, like that's really the first resource I can think of that I came across and then it just dovetailed into a bunch of others.
Jonathan Hermida: At what point, so whether it's Tony Robbins or Grant Cardone, in many ways these are folks that are teaching you to, to, uh, affect the external world, to
after what you want, to have the right mindset, to achieve your goals. What were some of the resources that began the inner journey?
A little deeper than that, and questioning or asking the bigger questions in life for yourself.
Andrew Mundy: Yeah.
I would say the first resource that really shifted into the internal was a book called Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz. So I started, I came across that book in 2018. It is actually really funny 'cause a lot of people in the copywriting space in the business space were like, Hey, this book's amazing. And the beauty of a book like Psycho-Cybernetics is it's. It's really looking at like, how do we actually authentically and naturally [00:16:00] shift our self-image? So how do we actually do the internal work to be able to develop confidence and wellbeing and this trust in a way that it's not fake, it's real to us?
And that was really the first catalyst of that sort of looking inward, starting to look at oh, the power to be able to, shift our identity and shift who we're being, on our own terms. Like what a, what an amazing resource.
Jonathan Hermida: And how did that start to influence your relationships and the way you were thinking about the trajectory of your life?
Andrew Mundy: it, I, what it really showed me was that, we have our strengths, we have our weaknesses, and. In a sense too, like that book is such a great platform for just championing ourselves naturally. Again, it's not about being fake. It's really about there's actually [00:17:00] a really cool process in that program where, in that book where, you know, you, they talk about like, the way that we can actually fuel ourselves to go, be confident and courageous in creating the things that we want, is to actually have a process where we can take our wins all the way back in life.
And it can be any win. Learning how to ride a bike, going on your first date, asking out that girl for the first date, getting your first job. That when we can actually build a repertoire of these wins, that then becomes the fuel for us showing up in life. And what that book really showed me was like. I don't have to be anybody else but myself, and who I am as an individual is a powerful individual, and again, like even in, in that time period, what it really showed me was like, I could be strong, I could be weak, I could be courageous, I could be, scared. It doesn't matter.
I'm still the same [00:18:00] person. And if I am just that person that shows up every day, that's what's really gonna matter. And so then you take that into relationships. Not am, not only am I holding that for myself, but I'm also holding that for others, 'cause you see people out in the world, they're nervous, they're scared, they're concerned. And to be able to be somebody that can just be in conversation with them and bring that lightness and see oh, this person feels a little bit nervous, okay. How do I need to meet them so that they can feel good and who they're being as well.
Jonathan Hermida: Yeah. Yeah.
One thing we've spoken about before in the past is around the fact that your transformational journey really began when you were a parent, a father to young children. And so you're in this process of, evolving your career, of raising young children, being in a marriage, and also focusing on the inner work.
What was it like to balance all of these different parts of your life during that period?
Andrew Mundy: it definitely, hectic, is probably the [00:19:00] easiest word to describe it, but, but it, it all comes into synchronicity. I think that's for me, it's just, you have your commitments, right? You have your family commitments, you have your work commitments. And so I think in a sense it's like ensuring that Hey, I show up for my family, I show up for my wife, I show up for my kids, I do, what needs to be done?
So everybody is taken care of. And when everybody is taken care of, that gives me the time and space to focus on myself. Right. You know, so there's always time at nights that I can do a little bit of reading. And I think as well, you have to get creative, so for example, like I hear a lot of people who, they'll say, I don't have any time, I don't have time to do this stuff.
And it's worth exploring because. You can make it happen. Again, is it that, you're sitting there for two hours, listening to that course? Maybe not. But for example, I've listened to many courses while I'm cooking dinner, while I'm driving my car, while I'm mowing the lawn, [00:20:00] and what my skillset there is.
I'll listen to things multiple times, right? So let's say I'm, I'll just, mowing the lawn. I'm driving my car, I'll put on the same program two, three times. Eventually it's gonna stick. And eventually, that, that sort of transformative element will occur. And so I really look at it as like the transformational path, like my life is the transformational path.
Like everything from how I relate to my wife, to how I, parent my kids and interact with them to how I show up in the world. It's all a part of the transformational journey. From there it's just in a sense it's like you're always getting to, explore it, play with it, reflect on, hey, where do I need to adjust and that type of thing.
Jonathan Hermida: Yeah, you, when, when it becomes your priority in life and one of the priorities in your life, you make it work, you make it fit, you know, you, you, like you said, you multitask because it's what's needed. It's the [00:21:00] only way to really fit, fit it in, whether it's mowing the lawn or driving the car, cooking, doing all these different things, but you're fitting it in and finding the time to, you know, build in these programs, courses, reflections into your day-to-day life.
Andrew Mundy: Yeah. And one piece that I'll add to it too is that generally I would just focus on one program. So if I'm in a program, like I don't put myself, so for example, right now I'm in one program. I am doing some marketing listening as well. But I also find that, if you're trying to do all the things at once,
Jonathan Hermida: Right.
Andrew Mundy: you are only gonna get 25% of it.
A great example is let's say the DCI, like when I was in the DCI, that's where my entire focus was. So then in a sense it's also easier because great, I know the time allotments that I have. Okay, so I, where's my priority? I can focus on maybe the coaching sessions or, the trainings.
And again, it's like you put all, if you can put all your focus and [00:22:00] attention on that one area, it's like the master's gonna occur from it.
Jonathan Hermida: Yeah.
You mentioned the DCI, the deep coaching intensive. What drew you to that program?
Andrew Mundy: The short of it is that I was in a program called Accomplishment Coaching, which is an amazing coach training program. And it, it's really has, it has, I'll say some similarities, we'll say the similarities around the con like this idea of just developing your, being, developing your being and stepping into this transformative path. As I was about three quarters through this coaching program, a coach who was a mentor of mine mentioned Leon's book on his, his that he runs. And, in speaking of the book, I was like, oh, that sounds really interesting. That sounds what I'm looking for. And I, so I started reading Leon's book a shift in being while I was in this coach training program. And after reading the book, I was like, oh, this is what I've been looking for in the coach training program that I'm currently in. this is the missing sort of [00:23:00] piece that like, it totally makes sense now.
This is what the true ontological work is. And the thing that I can specifically speak to is that even in that coach training program, there was a lot of focus on say the transactional, That, so the, Hey client, we have a goal, like how do we go achieve that goal in this coaching session? And, I know I'm of getting into the depths of it, but what I really understood, even from reading a shift in being was like, oh, the true transformative element is like truly being in the moment, truly just being attuned to what's happening in the space. So I got that just from reading the book. So obviously then, it was a, I went into the holding space program first 'cause that's what was available next. And then, stepping into the DCI, it was an absolute no brainer for me.
Jonathan Hermida: Yeah.
But before diving more into that, what, initially taking a step back, what initially inspired you to get into coaching to begin with?
Andrew Mundy: So it was during that period [00:24:00] of the Psycho-Cybernetics, reading and I actually did like a coach training certification, just a very short one. It was a weekend session down, in Florida. What I saw from that, just from that training and from that book was there was al there was a need, there was a people were wanting support in this area of just enhancing their self-image and, being more naturally confident. So I, I really saw that there's a uniqueness to this. There's a uniqueness that I could bring to this. Not many people have this, even, at that point that I saw. And then from there, it just kept building, right?
So I started with Psycho Cybernetics, got into a life coaching program, found a book called The Heart of Laser Focused Coaching, by Marian Franklin would actually showed how to create like a, she's an MCC coach.
So she, it showed like, how do we actually take somebody from the beginning of a coaching session to the end. So from there, it just kept building. I kept finding, okay, what's next? Where do I go next with this? Where does that lead next? [00:25:00] And and then ultimately like getting to have conversations to support people at that level where it's actually making like a deep internal difference in who they're being. a natural, it was a natural fit.
Jonathan Hermida: Yeah. Yeah. How did the deep coaching intensive change you?
Andrew Mundy: Good question. Just even following what I spoke to before. There's a few different paths. One, it had me become more tuned to spirit, more at, tuned to, okay, so here we have this sort of material world in front of us, but there's different domains. You know, there's, there's the spiritual, there's the universal domain, there's the spiritual domain.
And what the DCI really connected for me was like, we can play at all levels, right? So yes, we're in this material world and there's things that need to be created here, but at a higher level, if we're living our life from our highest purpose in alignment with spirit, [00:26:00] that just creates much, a much more magical experience of living.
So that was really what I, one of the many things that I took from it.
But then to actually be able to. Have a coaching philosophy and process that's generated in the same way where it's I can just show up with somebody in a space. I don't know. We don't have to have any topic, and be able to create something like that where, you know, whether we're I'm supporting somebody to achieve their next goal or I'm supporting them to under, to feel into how they more deeply want to live their life and be in connection with spirit. It's just a truly magical, gift that, that the DCI was.
Jonathan Hermida: Yeah, there are very few spaces. Where you can replicate that experience of being so deeply connected and attuned to another human being in that sort of way, it's really quite magical and special and [00:27:00] different.
Yeah. And, and again, what, what started to shift inside of you? So you, you were now called to the support of others more deeply and, and again, what was your experience of yourself and life as all of this was shifting inside of you?
Andrew Mundy: I would say that it, again, I don't really, and not that you're saying this, but like I don't really hold coaching as different from living, so to speak. I see it as all the same. So whether I'm in a coaching session with somebody or whether I'm interacting with somebody out in the public, to me it's all the same representation of who we're being.
And so I think if anything, the DC, I just really opened that up for me to be like, here I am. I'm this human being. some people are gonna be ready to have these deep coaching conver these deep conversations with me, and some people are not. Some people are, we're gonna be a little bit more surface level and it's all good.
Because if I am being a representation [00:28:00] of, purpose and spirit, then it just creates for a much more freeing way of living. And that's, that's really, that's what I've looked to embody, leaving the DCII completed the DCI in early, um, I believe it was 2023. And I would say that's, I just continued to build on that.
Obviously as I continue to get deeper in who I'm being and, more understanding of how I want to be expressing myself in the world, it just continues to shape the path. And I would say too, the thing that I love about the DCI and the coaching philosophy is like. When I show up in the coaching space with people, it's fun. It's challenging, it's light and, and you know, I'm, I'm really just attuning to, what is needed in the space. Sometimes my clients are focused more on the goal oriented conversations. It may be in the beginning, and then sometimes as we're diving into these [00:29:00] conversations, there's a moment where there's a shift, and now we start looking at more of a spiritual transformational conversation.
And then maybe sometimes we dip back into the more transactional goals oriented conversation. But being somebody that can just facilitate that and hold that space, it is, it's so awesome.
Jonathan Hermida: It really is. It really is.
One thing that I really appreciate about you is that you took a leap in a way that a lot of aspiring coaches. Don't do. And that is a leap basically to kind of burn the bridges and go all in on coaching. Can you describe that decision and what that has been like to go all in in this way?
Andrew Mundy: Yeah, absolutely. One of the things that I did have support around was that I, I had my job for, I started coaching in 2019, did it part-time up until 2024. I had a good length of time to really build the skillset and understand how to build the business, at least at the [00:30:00] level to say, okay, I'm ready to make the transition into full-time. also had my wife as well, who's working full-time, so she's, she's supported us in that way, but that moment to make the leap,
Jonathan Hermida: i.
Andrew Mundy: It was this time, again, it's like even from 2019, if I was in a place that I could have made that leap to being a full-time business owner, I would've, but I wasn't quite ready yet.
And so by the time I got to, let's say early 2023, moving into that year, more and more, I just knew that, you know, my purpose is focused on bringing this work to the world and not just, the marketing work that I'm doing for this corporation. And in a sense, it's, it felt like it was time.
I felt like I was ready and I also felt called to go in that direction. And one thing about purpose is that. [00:31:00] When your highest purpose is something like this to go be this beacon in the world and to connect with people in this way, you just gotta follow it eventually. You just gotta trust it and, move towards it. Again, everybody's timeline's gonna be different, but if you are truly embodying that purpose, you gotta follow it.
Jonathan Hermida: Yeah. Yeah, absolutely.
What have the biggest challenges been for you? Jump jumping into the deep end in this way.
Andrew Mundy: Why? I, there's definitely been a few. I think one of the easier challenges to speak to is that, I still definitely had very much the nine to five mentality, and you and I, we worked on that and I've continued to soften that where. there was a feeling of guilt, of judgment towards myself, of say like, oh, maybe I did a six hour today, six hour day today instead of an eight hour day. Or, just yeah, like trying to almost compartment, compartmentalize that. Whereas now, I'm still working in [00:32:00] within those sort of structures, but I'm also being a bit more like free flowing in it too.
Hey, if I have to do a little bit of work at night so I can actually get my workout done in the morning, so be it.
Jonathan Hermida: Yeah.
Andrew Mundy: been one of the sort of easier challenges. I think the biggest, the biggest challenge has been in a sense a like adapting. Because what I had structured as a coaching business in let's say 2020 or 2021 as a part-time coach, those structures, yes there's a foundation there, but the markets shift, dynamic shift.
And I think in a sense that's been the, so say for example, I mean I'll just make it real, right? That I have a private coaching program, there's a certain feed of that private coaching program and that's where I started. And what I found over time was that okay, maybe people aren't enrolling in the private coaching program as much. So then I created a group coaching program, kind of making an easier access point, say for this year, I'm finding people aren't [00:33:00] enrolling as much in the group coaching program, so now I've created a smaller membership program as well. And so I think that's been one of the hardest pieces is being able to adapt to what's showing up in front of you, but still staying aligned with the mission.
Jonathan Hermida: Oh man. It, that's another thing that I deeply admire about you, has been your relentlessness in this path. I've been, I've had a front row seat to it, and you, you have been absolutely relentless in your day-to-day commitment to being a full-time coach. And one of the, one of the sort of realities that a lot of people are afraid of, right, is, is kind of like posting out in social media, putting yourself out there and not getting responses.
But that is a reality that I also face myself. And, and I know that, you know, sometimes you put something out there and nobody really replies or engages. What, what is that process like for you to not get the external sort of validation, but then to still be committed to post every day and to [00:34:00] evolve every day?
Andrew Mundy: Yeah, you're talking right to one of my survival mechanisms. It is challenging, right? When we put our gift out to the world and it's not being received, or you're like, oh, I created this amazing thing, and you get crickets on it, it hurts, it, it does hurt. I wanna make that very clear, it's something that I continually have to work through and correct myself, bring myself back into alignment. There's sort of two things that support me in this. One is that. Recognizing like when you're building, let's say an online business, this could be in person as well, right?
That a lot of people out in the world and they're in a lot of different places. And so some people are more ready for coaching and some people aren't. One of the things that supports me when I'm getting those crickets or people aren't responding is, I come back to, at the work that I've been doing with my clients.
Yes, maybe I've put out this post and nobody's responded to it, but I've had 50 plus people enroll in my coaching programs, and all I have to do is think about, the [00:35:00] client yesterday, how amazing of a conversation that we had together and how much of a game changer that was for him. And it's one of those things that it's so there, there's that element of it.
And I'll tie it into really how I feel about it is that sometimes that's just the way it goes. And even if people aren't, maybe if people aren't responding. It doesn't mean that they're not paying attention. And I think that's the thing to be really mindful of is that you have no idea what people are doing with, the content that, that you're putting out there.
For example, like I, I have a client who, he, we were in conversation last year in January. didn't hear from him until basically end of June and he's now a coaching client. Sometimes I couldn't have predicted that. And that's really, you know, the thing that's here is that you get to a place where you can feel that hey, your message actually [00:36:00] matters. If you're intentional about this work and you are on this path for being a coach and you have something that you want to share with others, your message matters. You are truly one of one. And there are people that are watching and listening and. the opportunity there sometimes is that if, say you're not getting the results that you want on social media, go just get in conversation with people.
Go get in conversation with people that are, I'm not talking about, your family member. It could be a pathway, but go get in conversation with people who, you know, that you could support, who you could give help to as a coach. gonna create progress in that way too. So it's really, again, it's that adaptability to, just how you're showing up.
And, yeah, just again, coming back to that place of you've got something to share, you've got something to offer and people really need it. People absolutely need the support of coaches these days.
Jonathan Hermida: Yeah, I, I don't post nearly as much, not even close to as much [00:37:00] as you do consistently like that. And yet, I've had, I can't tell you how many people over the years come back, I mean, just a random conversation with them, or they reach out later and they're like, you don't know how much your posts have moved me and how, how much they've made me change the way that I think.
And so even when you think nobody's watching or reading, because you don't, you don't have that like there or that many likes or that many comments, people are, they, you know, you're still there, you're still in front of people. So in being, consistent, you're constantly reminding people of, of the work that you're doing.
And a, a really important piece that you mentioned is. Because it's a posting on social media can be a thankless sort of engagement. But what isn't thankless, what is very much has real in the moment, feedback is having conversations, like you said, that is absolutely something that is under our control and that is what can get our mojo back as aspiring, business owners as [00:38:00] coach, business owners, is having those transformational conversations with people and having that as a sort of, um, foundation that helps us to build the momentum to move forward.
Yeah, those conversations are everything, especially when, when things aren't, you know, moving in the way that we want them to. At least have that one conversation in that one week that can change the way you view your business yourself and inspires you to do the next thing.
Andrew Mundy: Yeah. Really at the heart of it, coaching is all about connection,
Jonathan Hermida: Yes.
Andrew Mundy: And. You have to be willing, if you're stepping into this field of work, you have to be willing to like just cherish connection. And that is your gift, your skillset is to be able to be in connection with others and create these powerful conversations that most people aren't having.
And yeah, to me, I always, if things are not going as I want them to in my business, I always go back to [00:39:00] who do I need to connect with? who have I been in conversation with the past that I could check in with? Who's there that just, there's a conversation to be had time and time again that gets things moving in a forward direction.
Jonathan Hermida: Yeah. Yeah. So true. So true.
Speaking of connections, you are connecting. Mostly with men doing really powerful men's work. What men's It's, it's such a needed sort of avenue in the coaching world, you know, especially early on coaching was so much a female dominated sort of, uh, industry, but now it really has shifted quite a bit and, and there are a lot more folks serving men, thankfully.
What would you say is the biggest challenge confronting the men that you speak with and coach?
Andrew Mundy: It's funny, I'm wrapping my head around, three different areas, but I think, it comes back to that piece of what I've experienced with a lot of men is that [00:40:00] they've followed this blueprint for living, let's say go to school, get the job, get married, live a good life. That's the foundational blueprint. And a lot of the guys that I work with, they've done that.
Like they, they followed that blueprints and they thought that they were gonna, just create this peaceful, life of freedom. And what they find is oh, I actually feel really empty. I feel really challenged. I feel depleted. life is not working as I want to. And and in, in the society that we're in now, a lot of that pathway has been, people pleasing and, really strategizing as well.
That's a big one that I see is okay, if I do this, I'll get that. And a lot of black and white thinking as well, just like that's been the blueprint, right? That's been the model of living. And so what ends up happening is that. There's a lot of rigidity in these men. They feel like they're people pleasing, [00:41:00] they're approval seeking individuals, and they also, they don't know how to adapt.
They don't know how to shift. And so a lot of, a lot of the work that I do with them is, really one supporting them to, to look at like, do you actually get your needs met and create the life that you want without burning all the bridges down, without, because again, like one thing that I'll also come across is, a lot of guys would be, like, at that point, they'll be like, I just want to give up.
I just want to get divorced, go get on a motorcycle and, and, leave permanently. That's gonna have an impact as well. It's probably not gonna be as fulfilling as they think, but that's the feeling out there, right? They've had all this pressure and all this buildup over the years that they don't really see other options.
And so again, that's where I come in and really support them to look at okay, really how do we help you get attuned to your needs and what it is that you want? And understand that's just as important [00:42:00] as your family, your relationship. How do we help you actually stand for those while also showing up as a leader,
Jonathan Hermida: And, I'm curious about this point because, uh, oftentimes with men, what they say they would need is they're more externally driven. So that, that, you know, recognition, that accomplishment, the men that come to you, what, what are they then see what, what are the aspects of themselves that they are seeking to reconnect with?
Andrew Mundy: I would say, fundamentally for a lot of guys these days, it's being able to live life powerfully, but also still be able to have a sense of peace, a sense of groundedness, a sense of purpose, for example. So what they're looking for is, again, in a sense on, on, we will call it the surface level. they wanna be more proficient. They wanna, hey, I set this goal, I can go fulfill [00:43:00] on the goal. A lot of guys are even struggling with that right now. But underneath that, it's even just I want to be free. I want to be, influential in such a way that like, you know. Let's say in a marriage that like, I can get what I want, she can get what she wants, and both of us are working together. We have that, that, synchronicity so that life is good. I really get that sense from a lot of guys that they're looking for, again, that ability to be powerful, and really generate, but at the same time, just to be able to be free, to be able to just be, peaceful in the way that they're living as well.
Jonathan Hermida: How willing have you noticed them being to, um, to be vulnerable in their life?
Andrew Mundy: the guys that I work with are pretty, pretty vulnerable, I would say. And it's a building process, right? Maybe in the beginning of our relationship, there's a little bit more, reservation or holding back. Sometimes a lot of guys don't even understand the coaching [00:44:00] process, right?
So they're, it's a big leap for them to even be stepping into the coaching space in itself. But, and then over time, for the most part, I find that the men that I'm working with, they're incredibly vulnerable. They're incredibly courageous. They're willing to be challenged.
It's quite amazing
Jonathan Hermida: Yeah. Beautiful. Beautiful. What, what do you think most men are ultimately, what, what would you say is the biggest hurdle, keeping them from having that peace that they're seeking?
Andrew Mundy: fear. There's a lot of fear. Again, it comes back to a lot of the guys that I work with, they've created the quote unquote great life on paper, right? They have a family, they have kids, they have a home, they have a great job. And so the fear is that if I actually start standing for what I want or actually go pursue what I want in life, people might not join me.
Maybe people will leave. And then the fabric, [00:45:00] the foundation that I've created is now rocky. And that's really scary.
Jonathan Hermida: And so what, what do they, what do they seek when, when they have that degree of instability?
Andrew Mundy: I would say, patience. That's one, again, like when, if we're in that space in our, in the coaching together, it's not Hey, you have to go do all these things today.
Jonathan Hermida: Yeah.
Andrew Mundy: a building process. This is a journey that we can be on over nine, 12 months or beyond.
I think it's really patience and trusting of self. It really does come back to, at a deeper level that, regardless of the life dynamics that are occurring, regardless of what's happening in the environment out there, are you stable within, are grounded within that you can just be calm and peaceful and being able to adapt to the environment that's occurring around you. that's what men are, maybe they're not outright saying that's probably not the thing [00:46:00] that they're gonna say that, Hey, that's what I'm looking for, but that's actually what they're really seeking.
Jonathan Hermida: Yeah. Yeah. What are the aspects of men's work that you're excited to lean further into?
Andrew Mundy: So the pathway that I've been going down, this year has been much more focused on the embodiment side of work. So somatic practices, more physical practices, and I've been diving much more into topics around intimacy and sexuality for men as well. And I absolutely love this work. I would not have predicted that I would gone down this path a couple years ago and actually like creating my own mastery around it.
And the conversations, you talk about the vulnerability, but the depth of what can be created when, we're really, again, diving into the underbelly of what most people aren't talking about in society. And yet a topic like sexuality and intimacy is everywhere. love it. It's such a cruel place to be able to support men around.
Jonathan Hermida: Yeah. What [00:47:00] are the, what are some of the biggest challenges related to sexuality that men, that you're noticing men have?
Andrew Mundy: So I think the big one out front is pornography and just like the, again, I mean there's so many dynamics to it, but, and I don't even wanna necessarily say that pornography is wrong, but there's an artificial attachment to it, right? I guess the easy thing to speak to is that if somebody is using pornography as their primary outlet, they're actually likely gonna become less they're gonna become detached from real people, from real intimacy with a real human being. And, ultimately you keep going down that path. It's gonna continue to have, create struggles. And so Pornography's a big one. And I think ultimately. A big topic around, I'm gonna call it desire, that we all have desires. We may have intimate desires or sexual desires, and a lot of the times we've been shamed or made wrong or we've had to hide it [00:48:00] just our society is not seeing that as something that should be out in the world, something that should be expressed out in the world.
So I think a lot of the work is just really, shifting some of those dynamics, like really, supporting men to understand that hey, your desires are valid.
Jonathan Hermida: Yeah.
Andrew Mundy: you're the desires that you have for sexuality or intimacy, it's okay. It's okay to have those, and to continue to, express it in a positive way in the world.
Jonathan Hermida: Yeah, I, I think the most toxic emotion that men struggle with by far the most, and that is at the core of all the hate in the world and all the dysfunction in the world, at the core of why someone is drawn to commit suicide, shame, you know, and, and that's one of the emotions that it's particularly difficult for men to contend with and to feel and to be with.
And, you know, going into [00:49:00] sexuality and, and having, you know, desires and all of that, there's a certain shame also related to that, that keeps men from fully, um, stepping into the power in a healthy way. And that's why, that's why there's some, so often, male sexuality can lean into deviancy and sort of the more destructive means because it's not, there's no outlet for sort of the desire that's the healthy version of the desire that's there,
Andrew Mundy: Yes. Yeah. And I'll share with you, it is so amazing that you're talking about the co the topic of shame. Like even for this year, like in some of the work that I was doing with the coach, one of the things that we actually brought up was the shame that I feel, and I would not have predicted that or seen it myself. It's there. But I, then, and then, so it's been quite something, even for this year for me, like how subtle shame can be too. I think that's the thing that's like [00:50:00] blowing my mind. So there, there's a practice that I was talking to you about before called the Inner Smile. It's a meditative practice where you're feeling like your organs, your body. And I first do it, started doing this practice, I'd be like, oh, like I can feel a little bit more like fla on my stomach. I feel I feel overweight right now. And when I actually started experiencing that, I was like, oh my God. Physically actually can feel like feel that, but I can actually pinpoint where the shame is coming from and how it actually impacts how I interact with people in the world. mind blowing. And the aspect of shame that is as men and as human beings, that we're smart. You know, if, if we were to feel that every day, it probably wouldn't feel very good. So we bury it and it's like in the unconscious, so to speak. to actually, again, about this at a bit, a bit of a higher [00:51:00] level, it's just that wow, like for me to actually go through that experience myself and actually see oh, this is actually how the shame is manifesting in me. A coach who works with this stuff on a regular basis, it was mind blowing.
Jonathan Hermida: Yeah. Yeah. It's really the, it is powerful, powerful stuff, you know, and, and supporting men to navigate that shame. I, I really think it's the sort of gateway drug for men to come into deeper, uh, practices and has been, do think that so many men have gotten into, gotten into spirituality because through, through the vehicle of shame, you know, and usually the, the manifestation of, of shame has been, you know, drug addiction, alcoholism, sex addiction, porn addiction, you know, the addictions that, that, that, that afflict so many men, end up being the very pathway gateway that take men deeper, deeper into, into life, deeper into themselves, deeper into their own spirituality.
And [00:52:00] so it's really, powerful work that you're doing out in the world for. All of these men, you know, being, being the sort of, the Sherpa, uh, into their, their deeper being.
Andrew Mundy: you so much.
Jonathan Hermida: Yeah.
Andrew, as we start closing out this, amazing episode, if you could leave listeners with one invitation, something that they can reflect on or practice in their own transformational journeys. Maybe it's something for men, maybe it's something broader, but what might that be?
Andrew Mundy: I think the. The most potent one would be to, yeah, man, I'm gonna say practice, but is to get a copy of a shift in being,
that's the one that's really gonna make a difference. It is hard, it's hard to really pinpoint one practice that's gonna, specifically, work for everybody.
But I do know that book will make a difference.
Jonathan Hermida: Yeah.
Andrew Mundy: again, to me, for the folks that are listening, it's get involved in a community like the Center for Transformational Coaching because by having that book or being in a space like that's actually gonna open up the [00:53:00] gateway for feeling into what's most needed next for you. Where should my, where could my attention be for my own growth? And so that's, yeah, that's what I feel like offering.
Jonathan Hermida: Wonderful. Wonderful. Is there anything else that you wanna share before we close?
Andrew Mundy: No. No, I feel good. Thank you. Thank you for the space.
Thank you so much for being with us today. To learn more about today's guest visit our podcast landing page at www.podcast.centerfortransformationalcoaching.com. You'll find links to their website, social media, and anything else they might wanna share there. And if you're curious to explore more about our work, our trainings, or the deep coaching approach.
You'll find everything at www.centerfortransformationalcoaching.com. A new episode of this podcast releases every two weeks, so please subscribe wherever you listen to. Stay up to date. Until next time, stay present, embrace love, and continue sensing into what life is calling you toward. See you soon.