Building a Thriving Health Coaching Business: The Nourished Approach to Entrepreneurship

“Health coaches are not healers. You heal yourself. But health coaches create the environment and the container for healing to happen.” — Elyse Wagner

In this episode of CoachConnect, Dr. Diego Salinas and Elyse Wagner dig into what it really takes to build a sustainable health coaching business, and why the traditional hustle-and-grind approach is the wrong fit for this profession.

Elyse opens with her personal origin story. At 13, she transformed her own health through whole-food nutrition and the guidance of a holistic nutritionist who sat shoulder-to-shoulder with her, asked open-ended questions, and co-created a plan. As a result, she discovered early that information alone was never the key. The coaching relationship was.

She also shares her experience in grad school, when she became seriously ill and no provider could find the root cause. That experience deepened her conviction that health coaching fills a critical gap that conventional medicine simply cannot.

Together, Diego and Elyse explore why coaches graduate with passion and skills but struggle to build viable businesses. Furthermore, they unpack the internal work that blocks so many coaches from getting started; from impostor syndrome to the fear of being seen. Elyse introduces her Nourish Business Academy framework, which starts not with marketing or niching, but with grounding: getting clear on your values, your vision, and your why before anything else.

This is a must-listen for any health coach ready to stop waiting and start building.

Elyse Wagner – Clinical Health Psychologist, Entrepreneur & Founder of Nourish Business Academy

Background & Mission

Elyse Wagner holds a background in clinical health psychology and holistic nutrition. With 15 years as an entrepreneur, she has dedicated her career to helping health coaches get their gifts out into the world. Her mission is simple: when health coaches are nourished, their businesses thrive, their clients transform, and the ripple effect expands.

Co-Founder of a Gold Standard Health Coaching School

Elyse co-founded one of the first NBHWC-approved health coach certification programs, developed in collaboration with the Institute for Functional Medicine. Additionally, she has trained thousands of coaches around the globe. Through that work, she identified a critical gap: coaches were graduating with passion and purpose but without the tools to build sustainable businesses.

Founder of Nourish Business Academy

As a result of seeing that gap firsthand, Elyse created the Nourish Business Academy; a program designed to give coaches the skills, strategies, and confidence to grow thriving businesses on their own terms. The program begins with a grounding phase, helping coaches clarify their values, vision, and ideal clients before moving into strategy and offers.

Her Approach

Elyse’s approach is the antithesis of hustle culture. Instead of a cookie-cutter marketing playbook, she uses the health coach as the blueprint; building a personalized, nourished path to entrepreneurship. She also created Nourish Life Coach and Nourish Live to further support coaches at every stage of their journey.

Dr. Diego Salinas is the host of CoachConnect.

Dr. Diego Salinas is a neuroscientist, physician, and health coach. He is passionate about helping coaches grow their impact in the health and wellness space.

As the co-founder of Vibly, he equips coaches with the tools and support to build thriving practices and create lasting change.

Blending medical expertise with coaching experience, Dr. Salinas specializes in behavior change, mental well-being, and the role of coaching in healthcare. On CoachConnect, he explores the strategies and successes of top coaches, sharing actionable insights. A strong advocate for coaching in healthcare, he speaks at industry events and works to make quality coaching more accessible.

CoachConnect with Dr. Diego Salinas is a podcast for coaches looking to grow their impact, refine their strategies, and navigate the evolving world of health and wellness coaching.

Dr. Diego Salinas has a question for coaches and coaching industry leaders: “What makes coaching a powerful force for change?” In this podcast series, he sits down with top coaching professionals to uncover their insights, strategies, and personal journeys.

Each episode of CoachConnect delivers real-world strategies, success stories, and expert perspectives on coaching, mental well-being, and business growth, helping coaches at all levels unlock their full potential.