This Episode Is About Quitting. Stay With Us.

We've all heard it: "Keep calm and carry on." But what if pushing through isn’t always the brave choice?

In this episode of Go Coach Yourself!, Ryan and Vic explore the cultural obsession with grit—and why staying isn’t always strength. They unpack the psychology of sunk cost fallacy, the fear of regret, and the identity crisis that quitting can spark. Then, they share personal stories of walking away from big dreams and how those decisions led to the lives they actually wanted.

You’ll hear about:

• Why we romanticize perseverance—and why that can hurt us
• The difference between quitting and choosing again
• Real-life examples of bold pivots that paid off
• Coaching tools to help you decide when it’s time to let go

Reflection prompts + journal questions included.

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References:

• Psychology Today: Recognizing the sunk cost fallacy may help you cut your losses
• HBR: How Susceptible Are You to the Sunk Cost Fallacy?

This links to the following episodes:

• Go Coach Yourself: Why is "What Do You Want?" Such a Tough Question?

Hosts:

Ryan Reichert-Estes, StackRise Coaching | LinkedIn | Insta: @stackrisecoaching

Vic Smith, WhistleSmith.co | LinkedIn | Insta: @vic_bk

In this episode of 'Go Coach Yourself,' hosts Vic and Ryan discuss the power of believing that No is a complete sentence. Through personal stories and anecdotes, they delve into the reasons why we find it hard to say no without guilt or justification. The episode includes a discussion on the societal inclination to people-please, and gives practical tips on prioritizing yourself. At the end it concludes with a challenge to practice saying 'no' for seven days to foster self-care and intentional living.

Podcast Episodes Mentioned

Values

Why is 'What do you want?' so Hard to Answer?

Let's Talk About Our Boundaries

Hosts:

Ryan Reichert-Estes, StackRise Coaching | LinkedIn | Insta: @stackrisecoaching

Vic Smith, WhistleSmith.co | LinkedIn | Insta: @vic_bk

In this episode of Go Coach Yourself!, we do something a little different—and a lot more personal.

We each brought surprise questions the other hadn’t seen. No prep. No polish. Just curiosity. What unfolded? A conversation that deepened our connection, revealed things we hadn’t shared before, and reminded us how powerful it is to ask better questions.

Along the way, we explore:

• How a cinnamon chocolate chip cake led to a revelation about assumptions in long-term relationships
• The surprising science behind why we stop asking deep questions to those we know best
• A power outage, a peaceful plaza, and the small moment Ryan won’t forget
• The early influence of Motown, and why Whitney Houston still gets Vic dancing
• What it means to let go of a belief about success—and what opens up when we do
• Two podcast recs you’ll want to add to your queue (spoiler: they're both excellent)

We also share three practical tips for using questions to deepen your relationships—and a downloadable list of conversation starters to help you get going.

This one’s equal parts thoughtful and joyful. We hope it inspires you to pause, ask, and truly listen.

🔁 Try This: Ask one person in your life a question you’ve never asked them before. Start small. Be present. And just listen.

Tools:

• Our Question Collection – Curiosity-driven prompts to use with people in your life

References:

• Unprocessed by Lia Avellino – The raw and real podcast Vic loves
• Good Hang with Amy Poehler – Ryan’s latest podcast obsession
• It Doesn’t Hurt to Ask: Question-Asking Increases Liking | Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
• When familiarity not novelty motivates information-seeking behaviour | Scientific Reports

This links to the following episodes:

• Go Coach Yourself! Mastering the Art of Asking Questions - Meaningful Conversations Series – For a deeper dive into the mechanics of powerful questions

Hosts:

Ryan Reichert-Estes, StackRise Coaching | LinkedIn | Insta: @stackrisecoaching

Vic Smith, WhistleSmith.co | LinkedIn | Insta: @vic_bk

Is it possible that life doesn’t come with instructions... but with a studio?

In this episode of Go Coach Yourself!, Ryan and Vic explore how creative practices like watercolor, printmaking, mosaics, and ceramics hold powerful metaphors for self-discovery, meaningful connection, and living intentionally.

Whether you consider yourself “artistic” or not, this episode invites you to think differently about how you approach identity, values, and growth. Because every time you show up to create, you’re also showing up to life.

🧠 Topics we explore:

• What watercolor teaches us about patience and the discomfort of becoming
• How Japanese printmaking reflects values, alignment, and daily choices
• Why mosaics help us integrate sharp edges and discarded parts of our story
• What ceramics reveal about surrender, presence, and letting go
• The science behind creativity, neuroplasticity, and emotional health

This isn’t just about creativity. It’s about becoming.

Tools

• Creative Questions for Reflection

References:

• Drexel University: At Any Skill Level, Making Art Reduces Stress Hormones
• James Kaufman’s Four C Model of Creativity

Hosts:

Ryan Reichert-Estes, StackRise Coaching | LinkedIn | Insta: @stackrisecoaching

Vic Smith, WhistleSmith.co | LinkedIn | Insta: @vic_bk

This week, we're joined by the brilliant Dorothy Chang — executive coach, DEI designer, and advisor to organizations like Amazon, Stanford, and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. Together, we dive deep into what it means to live and lead intentionally, the hidden structures shaping our workplaces, and why making conscious choices is so challenging (and so necessary).

We explore:

• Why most of our decisions happen unconsciously — and how to change that.
• How intentional leaders think differently about problem-solving and decision-making.
• The power of the "even-over" framework for making aligned choices.
• What authenticity really looks like in the workplace (hint: it's more complicated than "just be yourself").
• How individuals and organizations can better align actions with values.

Dorothy also shares a practical thought exercise you can use today to reflect on how well your current life matches your intentions. Trust us: you’ll be thinking about this conversation long after it ends.

Resources Mentioned

• Dorothy Chang's Even-Over Framework (swipe a copy to use for yourself!)
• Connect with Dorothy Chang and DYYCHANG Consulting

Hosts:

Ryan Reichert-Estes, StackRise Coaching | LinkedIn | Insta: @stackrisecoaching

Vic Smith, WhistleSmith.co | LinkedIn | Insta: @vic_bk

In this special episode of Go Coach Yourself! join Vic and Ryan as they discuss a fresh approach to manager development with The Manager Lab.

This episode is a different format to their typical episodes with Ryan interviewing Vic and her sharing insights from leading manager development at Nike, Google, and Amazon. They dive into the critical role of managers in organizations and their impact on employee engagement.

Vic introduces 'The Manager Lab,' a comprehensive manager development ecosystem designed to build essential skills and foster a thriving manager community. She brings the ecosystem to life and explains why its powered by 1st90 to turn learning into daily practices and habits.

Tune in to discover actionable strategies and data-driven insights to elevate the effectiveness of managers in your organization.

Reach out to Vic to hear more about The Manager Lab - hello@whistlesmith.co

Hosts:

Ryan Reichert-Estes, StackRise Coaching | LinkedIn | Insta: @stackrisecoaching

Vic Smith, WhistleSmith.co | LinkedIn | Insta: @vic_bk

In this episode of Go Coach Yourself!, certified coaches Vic and Ryan are joined by special guest Francesca Ranieri from Frank Strategy. Francesca delves into her work helping organizations discover their X-factor and creating authentic workplaces. She also co-hosts the podcast Your Work Friends and shares her expertise on how to instill intentionality into personal and professional life. The conversation touches on the importance of honesty, making intentional choices, and knowing one's true values. Francesca shares her insights on navigating life's transitions, making small steps towards your passion, and the importance of doing the deep work to truly know oneself. This episode is rich with pragmatic advice and personal anecdotes that encourage listeners to lean into who they really are.

References

• Connect with Francesca on Linkedin
• Learn about Frank Strategy
• Listen to Your Work Friends podcast

This links to the following episodes:

• Go Coach Yourself! - Discover Your Success Patterns

Hosts:

Ryan Reichert-Estes, StackRise Coaching | LinkedIn | Insta: @stackrisecoaching

Vic Smith, WhistleSmith.co | LinkedIn | Insta: @vic_bk

In this dynamic episode of Go Coach Yourself!, certified coaches Vic and Ryan walk through a powerful mini workshop that helps you start uncovering your unique Success Patterns—the traits, behaviors, and actions that show up in your best moments.

Through a series of guided reflections—from meaningful objects to energizing life stories—you’ll begin to identify what makes you uniquely you. Along the way, you'll gain insights that boost your confidence, fuel your creativity, and strengthen your sense of connection.

Grab a journal, hit play, and follow along as Vic experiences the workshop in real time—so you can too.

Resources

• Download: Discover Your Success Patterns workbook

Want to go deeper? Learn more about uncovering your Success Patterns in Ryan’s course, Ignite the Spark.

Episodes Referenced

• Go Coach Yourself! - Building New Perpsectives

Hosts:

Ryan Reichert-Estes, StackRise Coaching | LinkedIn | Insta: @stackrisecoaching

Vic Smith, WhistleSmith.co | LinkedIn | Insta: @vic_bk