Épisodes

  • What are great ways to get to know a new client? - Episode 102

    What are great ways to get to know a new client? - Episode 102
    Oct 8 2026
    Understanding a client beyond the surface is crucial if coaching is going to create meaningful change, so in this episode we share and discuss creative ways of getting to know the person behind the presenting issue. How can music reveal a client’s values, identity and emotional world? What can a life timeline tell us about the experiences that have shaped them? How can storytelling help clients make sense of where they are and where they want to go? We’ll explore tools including the Wheel of Life, the WIFLS method, character strengths and personality assessments, as well as prompts such as “Where in your story do we need to begin to understand the person you are today?” We also discuss how to use assessments as conversation starters rather than fixed labels, when to keep an exploration open and when to offer more direction, and how to adapt your approach to the client’s pace and comfort. Ultimately, we ask what coaches need to understand about their client’s emotional, social and spiritual worlds in order to build a strong relationship and support lasting transformation.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Client Deepening Techniques00:40 Using Music to Understand Values and Emotions02:17 Pre-Session Questions and Storytelling04:30 The Power of the 'Fight Club' Question06:24 Letting Clients Show Up Authentically08:05 Creative Exercises: Wheel of Life and Values10:16 WIFL and Burn Exercises for Emotional Clarity12:09 Using Assessments to Uncover Blind Spots16:05 Life Audits and Numbered Goals18:16 Storytelling and Pivotal Moments20:24 Timeline Exercises and Meaning-Making22:29 The Four Worlds Model for Holistic Exploration24:48 Balancing Focus and Holistic Understanding26:27 Experimenting with Tools and Assessments29:16 Final Reflections and Practical TipsKey topicsUsing music and art as emotional entry pointsPre-session questions to understand client goals and fearsThe 'Fight Club' question for unlocking deep insightsLife audits and value exercises for holistic understandingCharacter strengths and personality assessments in coachingTimeline exercises to explore pivotal life momentsThe four worlds model for existential explorationCreative tools like imagery and cards for engagementResourcesThe VIA Character Strengths Assessment - https://www.viacharacter.org/ Gary Crotas' The Unlock Moment Podcast - https://theunlockmoment.com/ The Wheel of Life - https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newHTE_93.htm Enneagram Personality Test - https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/ Colby Assessment for Entrepreneurial Behavior - https://colby.com/ Keywordscoaching, client onboarding, storytelling, psychological assessments, life coaching, mental models, personality tests, life audit, character strengths, coaching toolsSupport the show- Never miss an episode:https://rocketsupervision.com/talking-about-coaching/- Yannick's Coaching Nuggets: https://gocoachinglab.com/nuggets- Free Starter Kit for new coaches: https://rocketsupervision.com/coaching-starter-kit/- More deep dives at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEK9UENWT66D6uqPJhCznXNhc9Ba9jite- Short episodes of TaC addressing specific questions: https://www.youtube.com/talkingaboutcoaching- Support what we do with a positive review, a comment or by telling a friend or colleague about this episode.- Watch COACHING DEMOS from many of our guests in Yannick's Lab. Membership: https://gocoachinglab.com/Upcoming Labs: https://bit.ly/FutureCoachingLabsFREE taster sessions: https://rocketsupervision.com/coaching-lab-coaching-sessions/ Thanks for being a coach. You're making the world a better place!
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    34 min
  • Is anyone coachable? - Episode 101

    Is anyone coachable? - Episode 101
    Sep 24 2026

    Client readiness and coachability are crucial factors in whether coaching is going to be successful, so in this episode we share and discuss our experience in what contributes to coachability and coaching readiness. What questions do you have to ask your client? What should you expect from them? What needs to be aligned for coaching to work? What does the client have to bring to make coaching work for them? At what point is it best not to take on a client, or to refer them to another coach? We’ll discuss coachability scales and questionnaires, the impact of fees, commitment, coach-client fit, and the spectrum of what coaching can be- with a call to action to share your own perspectives on what makes someone be coachable.

    Chapters
    00:00 The Nature of Coachability
    03:11 Readiness for Change
    06:11 The Role of the Coach
    09:01 Expectations and Commitment
    12:06 The Importance of Compatibility
    15:04 Navigating Client Relationships
    17:52 The Ethics of Coaching
    20:58 Final Thoughts on Coachability
    27:22 Understanding Coachability and Readiness
    30:06 Factors Influencing Coachability
    32:30 The Role of Commitment in Coaching
    35:55 Contracting and Setting Expectations
    38:55 Financial Considerations in Coaching
    44:03 Finding the Right Coach for You

    Resources:
    KF Coachability Model
    CV Coachability Index
    Yannick’s Coaching Starter Kit

    Summary

    This episode explores the nuances of coachability, readiness, and the key factors that influence successful coaching relationships. Yannick, Siwash, and Nicki share insights on how to assess if someone is truly prepared to engage in coaching and how to optimize the coaching process.

    Key topics

    What makes a client coachable?
    The importance of readiness and commitment
    Using coachability scales and assessments
    The role of motivation and psychological factors
    Matching coach and client for success

    ____

    If you'd like to stay up to date with new episodes, continue the conversation or generally support what we do:

    • Send us your question: http://bit.ly/talkingaboutcoaching
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    • Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG2c

    Support the show

    - Never miss an episode:
    https://rocketsupervision.com/talking-about-coaching/

    - Yannick's Coaching Nuggets: https://gocoachinglab.com/nuggets

    - Free Starter Kit for new coaches: https://rocketsupervision.com/coaching-starter-kit/

    - More deep dives at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEK9UENWT66D6uqPJhCznXNhc9Ba9jite

    - Short episodes of TaC addressing specific questions: https://www.youtube.com/talkingaboutcoaching

    - Support what we do with a positive review, a comment or by telling a friend or colleague about this episode.

    - Watch COACHING DEMOS from many of our guests in Yannick's Lab.

    • Membership: https://gocoachinglab.com/
    • Upcoming Labs: https://bit.ly/FutureCoachingLabs
    • FREE taster sessions: https://rocketsupervision.com/coaching-lab-coaching-sessions/

    Thanks for being a coach. You're making the world a better place!
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    46 min
  • Live Q&A with our Audience - Episode 100

    Live Q&A with our Audience - Episode 100
    Sep 10 2026

    We celebrated our 100th episode with a special live episode. In this episode we responded to questions from our audience and, together, explored the integration of AI in coaching and supervision, ethical considerations, and the future of coaching as a business. We share practical experiences, challenges, and opportunities in leveraging AI responsibly.

    Keywords

    coaching, AI, supervision, ethics, coaching business, technology, coaching tools, confidentiality, client trust

    Key topics

    • AI creeping into coaching and supervision
    • Ethical considerations around AI use
    • Informed consent and client confidentiality
    • AI as a support tool for coaches and clients
    • AI's impact on coaching business models
    • Training AI with specific knowledge and frameworks
    • Balancing transparency and client trust
    • The role of coaching in a tech-driven world
    • Only 6% of coaches are full-time, and why that makes sense

    Chapters

    1. 00:00 — Welcome to the 100th Episode of TaC
    2. 02:23 — AI Is Entering Coaching and Supervision
    3. 04:38 — Ethics, Transparency, and Client Consent
    4. 08:04 — What Value Does AI Add for Coaches?
    5. 13:37 — Using AI for Summaries and Follow-Ups
    6. 18:17 — Training AI to Act Like a Coach
    7. 22:08 — AI for Marketing and Storytelling
    8. 29:31 — Writing About Client Work Ethically
    9. 37:48 — Context, Contracting, and Human Judgment
    10. 40:33 — AI, Confidence, and the Future of Coaching
    11. 45:59 — AI as a Supervision Tool
    12. 52:15 — Human Oversight and AI’s Limits
    13. 59:34 — Only 6% of coaches are full-time, and why that makes sense
    14. 64:41 — Coaching as a Business
    15. 74:17 — Staying Close to the Craft

    ____
    If you'd like to stay up to date with new episodes, continue the conversation or generally support what we do:

    • Send us your question: http://bit.ly/talkingaboutcoaching
    • Sign up to our mailing list (no spam, no sales, just a quick shout about new episodes): https://rocketsupervision.com/talking-about-coaching/
    • Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG2c

    Support the show

    - Never miss an episode:
    https://rocketsupervision.com/talking-about-coaching/

    - Yannick's Coaching Nuggets: https://gocoachinglab.com/nuggets

    - Free Starter Kit for new coaches: https://rocketsupervision.com/coaching-starter-kit/

    - More deep dives at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEK9UENWT66D6uqPJhCznXNhc9Ba9jite

    - Short episodes of TaC addressing specific questions: https://www.youtube.com/talkingaboutcoaching

    - Support what we do with a positive review, a comment or by telling a friend or colleague about this episode.

    - Watch COACHING DEMOS from many of our guests in Yannick's Lab.

    • Membership: https://gocoachinglab.com/
    • Upcoming Labs: https://bit.ly/FutureCoachingLabs
    • FREE taster sessions: https://rocketsupervision.com/coaching-lab-coaching-sessions/

    Thanks for being a coach. You're making the world a better place!
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    1 h et 16 min
  • Deep Dive on Existential Career Coaching with Dr. Britt-Mari Sykes

    Deep Dive on Existential Career Coaching with Dr. Britt-Mari Sykes
    Jul 16 2026
    Welcome to this episode of Talking about Coaching, the podcast from coaches for coaches. This episode is one of Yannick's deep dives into one topic or person and we're talking to Dr. Britt-Mari Sykes about existential career coaching, and how career development and navigation in the age of AI increasingly brings existential themes to the fore, as clients have to confront questions of identity, authenticity, uncertainty, temporality, meaning, and isolation. What you’ll hear in this episodeWhy career coaching needs an existential lensHow identity and meaning shift across a career lifeThe role of resistance, stuckness, and uncertaintyWhy “passion” can become a limiting narrativeHow deep listening opens up more useful coaching conversationsThe importance of descriptive reflection over quick fixesHow AI changes the way people think about work, choice, and human valueKey themesWhere traditional career coaching fails to deliverThe existential layerStuckness as informationChallenging narratives around passion and purposeAI as a third voice in the roomChapters0:01 — Why Career Coaching Needs an Existential Lens1:55 — How Britt-Mari Found Her Calling4:14 — Beyond Strategy: The Deeper Work of Career Coaching5:53 — Bringing a Role to Life7:11 — Why Human Conversations Matter More Than Ever9:06 — Traditional Coaching vs. Existential Questions11:06 — Why Practical Steps Come Second14:35 — When Change Feels Impossible21:23 — Listening for What’s Really There23:34 — What “Stuck” Is Really Telling You28:12 — You Are the Job33:25 — The “Shoulds” That Shape Careers39:24 — Passion Paralysis45:32 — Why Description Beats Labels48:58 — Reframing Purpose and Value52:17 — When Work Holds You—and Traps You54:18 — Stuckness as a Useful Pause58:20 — Stepping Back to Reflect63:29 — The Existential Gym67:51 — Five Minutes That Change Your Day70:02 — Practicing Reflection Like a Muscle73:44 — Camus, Sisyphus, and Meaning76:11 — Commitment, Choice, and Decisions80:37 — Freedom, Bad Faith, and the Dizziness of Choice83:30 — Choice, Tradeoffs, and Standing Behind Decisions87:46 — How Clients Step Into This Work91:31 — Making Space for Ambiguity and Contradiction92:33 — Why AI Can’t Replace a Human Coach98:43 — When AI Becomes a Tool, Not a Relationship99:16 — Why the Existential Gym Still Matters100:19 — What Resonated Most103:17 — The Third Voice in the Room104:16 — Learn more from and with Britt-MariBIO: Britt-Mari Sykes, Ph.D., is a Career Counsellor and Consultant, a Career Development Practitioner (CDP), and the founder of CANVAS Career Counselling. She is a member of Career Professionals of Canada and received the 2024 Outstanding Career Professional Award of Excellence. She holds certifications as a Career Strategist (CCS), Work-Life Strategist (CWS), Employment Strategist (CES), Interview Strategist (CIS), and Résumé Strategist (CRS). Britt-Mari has supported a diverse range of clients across Canada for over 16 years, assisting those facing career changes, burnout, or feeling unfulfilled, as well as individuals exploring new work options later in life. She also works with emerging young leaders, senior leaders managing multigenerational teams, and career development practitioners seeking mentorship and guidance. Britt-Mari brings an existential and experiential approach to career counselling, guiding clients to explore their relationship with work and careers, reflect on their experiences, choices, and decisions, and develop practical, meaningful next steps. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Ottawa and specializes in existential and experiential psychotherapies. Britt-Mari is the author of Questioning Psychological Health and Well-Being (2010), a historical and contemporary exploration of the meaning of psychological health and development. Currently, she is working on her second book, a collection of essays on the meaning of career and our relationship with work from an existential perspective in career counselling. In addition to her private practice, Britt-Mari has presented at conferences across Canada, the USA, and Europe on topics such as human development, ethics in everyday life, and the value of work. She continues to teach as a sessional and guest lecturer in university classrooms on the history and development of existential psychology and the theory of Existential Analysis. Committed to lifelong learning and professional growth, she regularly participates in workshops and certificate programs on Existential Analysis, Trauma-Informed Care, and Narrative Therapy. Actively engaged in community service, Britt-Mari currently volunteers as a Certification Assessor with Career Professionals of Canada and, for 8 years, volunteered as a group facilitator with the Discover Year program (a structured gap-year initiative).Email: hello@mycareercanvas.coWebsite: https://mycareercanvas.co LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/...
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    1 h et 46 min
  • Deep Dive: From Corporate to Coaching Classical Musicians with Ruth Cooper-Dickson

    Deep Dive: From Corporate to Coaching Classical Musicians with Ruth Cooper-Dickson
    Jun 25 2026
    Welcome to this episode of Talking about Coaching, the podcast from coaches for coaches. This episode is one of Yannick's deep dives into one topic or person and we’re talking about coaching with Ruth Cooper-Dickson who shares her inspiring journey from doing corporate work to coaching classical musicians, highlighting what it takes to break into a new line of work as well as innovative approaches to wellbeing and resilience through music and positive psychology. In July 2026 Ruth will be presenting the insights and learning from this journey at the European Conference for Positive Psychology (ECPP) in Dublin, and we thought it would be excellent to offer the conference audience (as well as a wider one) access to a deeper dive into how she made this dream happen, her approach to working with musicians and performers, and her experience along the way.KEY TOPICS- How to launch a successful coaching pilot- Building resilience and confidence in musicians- Community and relationship building through arts- Using strengths and values in coachingABOUT RUTHRuth Cooper-Dickson is an award-winning positive psychology practitioner, trauma-informed coach, and founder of Thrivership Coaching™. A published academic, her recent practitioner research focuses on classical musicians, and she has developed and delivered a positive psychology coaching programme for musicians and composers in collaboration with the Royal Philharmonic Society, bringing evidence-based wellbeing tools to the unique pressures of a life in classical music. Her earlier academic work explored post-traumatic growth and coaching, a thread that continues to underpin her practice.Ruth launched her wellbeing consultancy after her own experience of mental ill health, including Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, and chronic burnout. That lived experience sits at the heart of her work, where she helps individuals and organisations start open, honest, and human conversations about Mental Wealth. Her trauma-informed approach to thrivership coaching supports people to grow after adversity rather than simply recover from it. She has been a patron of the UK anxiety charity No Panic since 2018.Alongside her coaching, Ruth is a radio broadcaster who has hosted live since 2024, and a keynote speaker who has delivered talks for global brands, combining academic research with real-world insight. A certified breathwork leader and Mental Health First Aid Instructor of over a decade, she has trained thousands worldwide.Learn more about Ruth and her work at https://ruthcooperdickson.com/ Ruth on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruthiecoops/ Ruth’s Substack Coffee with Coops: https://ruthcooperdickson.substack.com/ Ruth’s Podcast Espresso with Coops: https://ruthcooperdickson.substack.com/podcastRuth’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthcooperdickson/ Listen to Ruth every Friday 0730-1000 BST as she hosts the Breakfast Show: https://www.chelmsfordcommunityradio.com/ Chapters00:00 Introduction to Coaching and Music03:11 Ruth's Journey into Positive Psychology and Coaching06:00 The Intersection of Music and Healing08:52 Creating a Coaching Program for Musicians12:07 The Structure and Goals of the Coaching Program15:08 Navigating the Unique Challenges of Classical Musicians18:00 The Role of an External Coach21:00 Feedback and Impact of the Coaching Program24:00 Personal Reflections and Lessons Learned33:51 Embracing Creativity and Growth36:14 Building Relationships in Coaching39:26 Collecting Stories and Experiences40:44 Identifying Personal Values and Strengths42:36 The Importance of Humility in Performance44:01 Creating Community Connections45:15 Leveraging AI for Program Development48:13 The Value of Pro Bono Work50:56 Reflections on the Program's Impact57:11 Future Opportunities and Collaborations_____________________________Never miss an episode by signing up to our mailing list:https://rocketsupervision.com/talking-about-coaching/Continue the conversation - Join the community!Whatsapp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/HLEWkFImuk60UQO2JA8HpA More deep dives into coaching at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEK9UENWT66D6uqPJhCznXNhc9Ba9jiteShort episodes of Talking about Coaching addressing specific questions: https://www.youtube.com/talkingaboutcoaching You can also find us on all major podcast platforms.If you'd like to support the Podcast, please consider a positive review, leave a comment or tell a friend or colleague about this episode.And did you know that you can see COACHING DEMOS from many of our podcast guests as part of Yannick's Coaching Lab. In the Lab you’re a “fly on the wall” for a 45min live coaching demo followed by Q&A and conversations with the coach and client and (optional) experimental breakouts in triads. Members of the Lab can re-watch recordings of sessions they’ve missed and VIP Members have access to the entire Vault of available coaching demos:- Become a member: https://gocoachinglab.com/- ...
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    1 h et 4 min
  • AI in coaching - An update - Episode 99

    AI in coaching - An update - Episode 99
    May 28 2026

    We’ve had several questions around how coaches use Artificial Intelligence (AI) in coaching, may that be to grow your business, as part of the coaching, or to improve your coaching skills. Building on our previous two episodes on AI, this episode offers an update with regards to how coaches can utilize AI. We’re signposting to a few custom GPTs we’re using, prompt advise, and highlight both the value and the risks of using AI in coaching.

    See also:

    • Episode 91 - How can I use AI to be a better coach? (Part II)
    • Episode 89 - How can I use AI to be a better coach? (Part I)

    ____
    If you'd like to stay up to date with new episodes, continue the conversation or generally support what we do:

    • Send us your question: http://bit.ly/talkingaboutcoaching
    • Sign up to our mailing list (no spam, no sales, just a quick shout about new episodes): https://rocketsupervision.com/talking-about-coaching/
    • Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG2c



    Support the show

    - Never miss an episode:
    https://rocketsupervision.com/talking-about-coaching/

    - Yannick's Coaching Nuggets: https://gocoachinglab.com/nuggets

    - Free Starter Kit for new coaches: https://rocketsupervision.com/coaching-starter-kit/

    - More deep dives at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEK9UENWT66D6uqPJhCznXNhc9Ba9jite

    - Short episodes of TaC addressing specific questions: https://www.youtube.com/talkingaboutcoaching

    - Support what we do with a positive review, a comment or by telling a friend or colleague about this episode.

    - Watch COACHING DEMOS from many of our guests in Yannick's Lab.

    • Membership: https://gocoachinglab.com/
    • Upcoming Labs: https://bit.ly/FutureCoachingLabs
    • FREE taster sessions: https://rocketsupervision.com/coaching-lab-coaching-sessions/

    Thanks for being a coach. You're making the world a better place!
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    46 min
  • How to navigate the leadership paradox in coaching? - Episode 98

    How to navigate the leadership paradox in coaching? - Episode 98
    May 14 2026

    Experienced coaches know this: The more leadership we exhibit in coaching consultations, the easier it is to sign up clients, but the harder it is to then work with them “in partnership”, because we set up the relationship with certain expectations. But if we start with co-creating each part of the coaching relationship from the start, we lack the kind of certainty and confidence that helps clients to say yes to coaching with ease. This is what we may refer to as “the leadership paradox in coaching”, and today the Talking about Coaching Podcast hosts Yannick and Siwash are discussing how to navigate this challenge and strike the right balance.

    ____
    If you'd like to stay up to date with new episodes, continue the conversation or generally support what we do:

    • Send us your question: http://bit.ly/talkingaboutcoaching
    • Sign up to our mailing list (no spam, no sales, just a quick shout about new episodes): https://rocketsupervision.com/talking-about-coaching/
    • Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG2c



    Support the show

    - Never miss an episode:
    https://rocketsupervision.com/talking-about-coaching/

    - Yannick's Coaching Nuggets: https://gocoachinglab.com/nuggets

    - Free Starter Kit for new coaches: https://rocketsupervision.com/coaching-starter-kit/

    - More deep dives at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEK9UENWT66D6uqPJhCznXNhc9Ba9jite

    - Short episodes of TaC addressing specific questions: https://www.youtube.com/talkingaboutcoaching

    - Support what we do with a positive review, a comment or by telling a friend or colleague about this episode.

    - Watch COACHING DEMOS from many of our guests in Yannick's Lab.

    • Membership: https://gocoachinglab.com/
    • Upcoming Labs: https://bit.ly/FutureCoachingLabs
    • FREE taster sessions: https://rocketsupervision.com/coaching-lab-coaching-sessions/

    Thanks for being a coach. You're making the world a better place!
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    16 min
  • Is the coaching market saturated? - Episode 97

    Is the coaching market saturated? - Episode 97
    Apr 30 2026

    We hear this from a lot of coaches in recent times: There are too many coaches out there! It’s getting increasingly difficult to reach potential clients amidst the sheer number of coaches trying to keep their businesses afloat. In this conversation, Yannick and Siwash share their perspective on why coaching as an industry can’t be saturated due to existing demands, discuss a solution to the problem of “saturation”, explain why it’s so important to pay attention to your personal narratives, and how marketing and branding are intricately linked to a successful coaching business. At the end you may just feel hopeful about the future of coaching, your business, and the world.

    ____
    If you'd like to stay up to date with new episodes, continue the conversation or generally support what we do:

    • Send us your question: http://bit.ly/talkingaboutcoaching
    • Sign up to our mailing list (no spam, no sales, just a quick shout about new episodes): https://rocketsupervision.com/talking-about-coaching/
    • Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG2c




    Support the show

    - Never miss an episode:
    https://rocketsupervision.com/talking-about-coaching/

    - Yannick's Coaching Nuggets: https://gocoachinglab.com/nuggets

    - Free Starter Kit for new coaches: https://rocketsupervision.com/coaching-starter-kit/

    - More deep dives at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEK9UENWT66D6uqPJhCznXNhc9Ba9jite

    - Short episodes of TaC addressing specific questions: https://www.youtube.com/talkingaboutcoaching

    - Support what we do with a positive review, a comment or by telling a friend or colleague about this episode.

    - Watch COACHING DEMOS from many of our guests in Yannick's Lab.

    • Membership: https://gocoachinglab.com/
    • Upcoming Labs: https://bit.ly/FutureCoachingLabs
    • FREE taster sessions: https://rocketsupervision.com/coaching-lab-coaching-sessions/

    Thanks for being a coach. You're making the world a better place!
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    12 min