Podcast
Go Coach Yourself!
Hosted by Ryan Reichert-Estes, CPCC and Vic Smith, CPCC · EN
Welcome to Go Coach Yourself!, a podcast to help you get unf*cked and build the incredible life you deserve. We’re Vic and Ryan, two certified coaches trying to change the world one conversation at a time.
In our respective practices, we’ve noticed common experiences or themes that come up again and again with clients. We started Go Coach Yourself to share our thoughts, experiences and tips with more people, giving you tools you can use to navigate your own way through any of the topics we cover. Through these examples and deep dives on coaching topics we hope you’ll gain a greater understanding of what working with a coach can involve. We believe everyone deserves to have a coach in their team, so whether you’re still exploring to find the right coach for you or you are ready to get started, we’re excited to give you an inside look at how two coaches see the world. We’re going to have a ton of fun along the way, and welcome you to join us on this journey!
About Vic Smith, CPCC
13episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Own Your Life with Andy Storch
Apr 1500:44:32Tap to summarizeLet us know what you think about this episode or send us an idea!Go Coach Yourself! welcomes Andy Storch! Andy discusses his mission is to get the most out of life and inspire others to do the same. This episode is for anyone looking to powerfully align their work with personal strengths and values. From battling imposter syndrome to building a personal brand, Andy's insights will challenge and motivate you.Andy is an author, speaker, consultant, coach, connector, and facilitator specializing in helping organizations improve engagement and retention by teaching employees to own their careers and achieve their goals.Andy is also the author of the book Own Your Career Own Your Life and the host of two podcasts, including The Talent Development Hot Seat and the Own Your Career Show as well as the founder and host of the Talent Development Think Tank Conference and Community. Don't miss out on becoming proactive and intentional in crafting the future you deserve!Learn more about Andy:https://andystorch.com/Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andystorch/Hosts:Ryan Reichert-Estes, StackRise Coaching | LinkedIn | Insta: @stackrisecoachingVic Smith, WhistleSmith.co | LinkedIn | Insta: @vic_bk
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Going Deeper: Questions for Love, Friendship, and Real Connection
Apr 200:51:34Tap to summarizeLet us know what you think about this episode or send us an idea!What helps people feel more connected over time?In this episode, Ryan and Vic revisit a theme from season two and take it deeper. Inspired by the Gottmans’ questions for emotional intimacy, they explore what it looks like to keep getting to know someone, even when you already know them well.Together, they reflect on trust, vulnerability, shared dreams, personal values, love, and relationship fears. What unfolds is an honest conversation about being seen, feeling enough, remembering the small things, and why deeper connection is something we practice, not something we arrive at once.This one is a real-time model of what it can look like to ask better questions and stay curious with the people you care about most.In this episode, Ryan and Vic talk about:Why emotional intimacy needs ongoing attentionThe difference between surface conversation and deeper connectionHow trust is built through curiosity, care, and positive intentThe values they learned from family and still carry forwardWhat quality time actually means in different relationshipsSmall gestures that make people feel seen and cared forTheir biggest fears in close relationshipsWhy these kinds of questions matter in friendships, not just romantic partnershipsReferenced in this episode:Season 2 episode: You Don’t Know Me Yet: Questions to Build Real Connection with Someone Else75 Insightful Questions to Deepen Emotional IntimacyListener reflection:Who in your life would you like to know more deeply right now?Pick one question and ask it.Hosts:Ryan Reichert-Estes, StackRise Coaching | LinkedIn | Insta: @stackrisecoachingVic Smith, WhistleSmith.co | LinkedIn | Insta: @vic_bk
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How do You Want to Feel: Using an Emotional Goal to Give You Direction
Mar 1800:41:22Tap to summarizeLet us know what you think about this episode or send us an idea!Most of us are taught to chase things—roles, milestones, achievements—without ever naming the experience we’re actually trying to have.An emotional goal flips that script.When you know how you want to feel, it becomes easier to:make decisionsadapt when things changerelease outcomes that don’t fully materializeand still feel fulfilledBecause the feeling—not the thing—is what you were after all along.Join Vic and Ryan as they talk about how to find and lock in an emotional goal. they share personal stories, a framework to get you started and practical tips to bring it to life.Resources:The Emotional WheelHosts:Ryan Reichert-Estes, StackRise Coaching | LinkedIn | Insta: @stackrisecoachingVic Smith, WhistleSmith.co | LinkedIn | Insta: @vic_bk
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Incredible Life Building Blocks
Feb 1900:40:13Tap to summarizeLet us know what you think about this episode or send us an idea!What actually makes a life incredible?Not big moments.Not Instagram highlights.Not achievement for achievement’s sake.In this episode, Ryan and Vic unpack what they really mean by “build the incredible life you deserve” — and why it has far more to do with foundations than outcomes.If your life were a house… which part of the foundation is cracking?In this episode, we explore five core building blocks:1. Purpose – Direction, Not Pressure2. Relationships – Belonging Takes Intention3. Joy & Play – Not a Reward, But Fuel4. Growth & Learning – Stay Open5. Alignment & Integrity – The Tension You Feel Matters—Reflection Questions from This EpisodeWhat are you optimizing for right now: performance, approval, or meaning?Who do you feel most yourself around?Who knows what you’re actually carrying?What did you used to do just because it made you feel alive?Where are you leaking energy?What small boundary would bring you relief?You don’t need to overhaul your life.Pick one foundation.Choose one small action.Just start.🎧 Listen now on our website or wherever you get your podcasts.Prior GCY Episodes MentionedGet Unf*cked: Your Are Not a Problem to Fix (A companion to this episode)Purpose: Define, Discover and Live Your WhyThe Energy Between Us: What Makes Relationships Meaningful with Susan ClarkLet's Talk About Our Boundaries!External ResourcesThe School of Joy (schoolofjoy.co)Ingrid Fetell Lee’s TED Talk, "Where Joy Hides and How to Find It" and book Joyful Hosts:Ryan Reichert-Estes, StackRise Coaching | LinkedIn | Insta: @stackrisecoachingVic Smith, WhistleSmith.co | LinkedIn | Insta: @vic_bk
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Get Unf*cked: You Are Not a Problem to Fix
Feb 400:40:16Tap to summarizeLet us know what you think about this episode or send us an idea!Somewhere along the way, many of us learned to interpret discomfort, confusion, or lack of momentum as proof that something is wrong with us.In this episode, Ryan and Vic challenge that assumption.They unpack what it really means to get unfcked* — not by fixing yourself, but by recognizing when you’re simply under-resourced, not broken.Together, they explore three core elements that are often missing when life starts to feel heavy or stuck:Clarity – not certainty or a 10-year plan, but orientationDirection – movement without needing to feel “ready”Autonomy – the right to want what you want without justificationYou’ll hear personal stories, coaching reflections, and practical reframes to help you stop diagnosing yourself as the problem — and start asking better questions about what’s actually missing.In this episode:Why confusion and discomfort are not character flawsHow the “fix yourself” mindset quietly runs the self-help industryThe difference between being broken and being under-resourcedWhy motivation follows action (not the other way around)What autonomy really costs — and why it’s worth itReflection questions from the episode:What are you assuming is a personal flaw that might actually be a missing input?If you didn’t need to be sure, what would you try?Where are you living someone else’s version of “enough”?If you assumed you weren’t broken, what would you stop apologizing for?Key takeaway:You don’t need fixing.You need support, space, and permission to listen to yourself.Hosts:Ryan Reichert-Estes, StackRise Coaching | LinkedIn | Insta: @stackrisecoachingVic Smith, WhistleSmith.co | LinkedIn | Insta: @vic_bk
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We're Back, Baby! Season 3 Intro
Jan 2100:14:00Tap to summarizeLet us know what you think about this episode or send us an idea!Vic and Ryan kick of Season 3 of Go Coach Yourself! They look back at the 2025 Season 2 and tease what is coming in 2026. They touch on Heated Rivalry, both the TV show and the books, their amazing 2025 guests, how they will double down on the tagline for 2026 and extend an invitation.Their invitation: We want hear from you. We are looking for folks who want be coached, folks who want hear their issue or their challenge or their successes talked about. We want answer your questions and help you get unfucked to build the incredible life you deserve. So reach out. You can send us a text message directly via the link below. You can reach out to either of us on LinkedIn or you can email us at hey@gocoachyourselfpodcast.comHosts:Ryan Reichert-Estes, StackRise Coaching | LinkedIn | Insta: @stackrisecoachingVic Smith, WhistleSmith.co | LinkedIn | Insta: @vic_bk
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Introducing The 12 Days of Coaching
Dec 2400:06:45Tap to summarizeLet us know what you think about this episode or send us an idea!Every year, the holiday season invites us into a strange mix of celebration, reflection, chaos, joy, expectation, and—let’s be honest—just trying to keep it together long enough to coast into January with our sanity intact. So this year, Go Coach Yourself! is offering a little gift: The 12 Days of Coaching, a playful redux of the classic “12 Days of Christmas,” reimagined as a short, daily burst of leadership wisdom to close out the year strong.Instead of partridges, pear trees, and various types of birds no one actually wants, each day brings a micro-practice designed to help leaders reset, re-center, and re-enter the new year with intention. Think of it like a tiny advent calendar for your leadership brain—no chocolate, but way more satisfying.Hosts:Ryan Reichert-Estes, StackRise Coaching | LinkedIn | Insta: @stackrisecoachingVic Smith, WhistleSmith.co | LinkedIn | Insta: @vic_bk
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How to Show up for Someone Without Trying to Fix Them
Dec 1700:14:45Tap to summarizeLet us know what you think about this episode or send us an idea!In this episode of Go Coach Yourself!, Vic and Ryan tackle the common urge to fix people's problems rather than hold space and truly listen. Dive into the reasons why jumping into fixer mode doesn't work and hear about the importance of holding space and providing support without solving. Learn why your well-intended advice might backfire and how to create meaningful connections. This episode has practical tips and empowering questions that help you show up in a way that supports and doesn't solve. Links to articles:HBR - What Great Listeners Actually DoPsychology Today - How Unsolicited Advice Harms Your RelationshipsHosts:Ryan Reichert-Estes, StackRise Coaching | LinkedIn | Insta: @stackrisecoachingVic Smith, WhistleSmith.co | LinkedIn | Insta: @vic_bk
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Questions to Reflect On
Dec 1000:30:51Tap to summarizeLet us know what you think about this episode or send us an idea!In this episode of Go Coach Yourself! hosts Vic and Ryan answer four reflection questions to close out the year meaningfully. They explore overcoming challenges, building or breaking habits, feeling proud, and strengthening relationships by looking back on their year and focusing in on some key moments. Through personal anecdotes, they touch on themes such as the importance of action over motivation, dealing with physical injuries, improving sleep habits, and reconnecting with past colleagues. They encourage you to use these questions not just at the year-end but any time for personal growth. Four questions:1. What is one challenge you have overcome this year and what did it teach you about yourself?2. What's a habit you've built or broken that has improved your quality of life this year?3. What is a moment from this year when you felt truly proud of yourself, what happened?4. What relationship you have strengthened this year and what made it grow?Two bonus questions:- What's a meaningful act of kindness you've experienced or given recently?- What's one thing you're grateful for this year that you might have taken for granted in the past?Hosts:Ryan Reichert-Estes, StackRise Coaching | LinkedIn | Insta: @stackrisecoachingVic Smith, WhistleSmith.co | LinkedIn | Insta: @vic_bk
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Portfolio or Mastery? Making Sense of Your Career Journey
Dec 300:53:12Tap to summarizeLet us know what you think about this episode or send us an idea!Have you ever looked at your career and thought, “Does any of this even make sense?”In this episode, Ryan and Vic unpack two common career paths:The portfolio career – built through experiments, pivots, and lots of different chapters.The mastery career – built through depth, focus, and long-term growth in a specific craft or field.Neither is better. What matters is how you understand your patterns, your identity, and the meaning inside your story.Ryan shares his non-linear path across wine, HR, L&D, and coaching as an example of a portfolio career. Vic shares how she built a mastery career in leadership and manager development without a traditional degree, and why experience and curiosity matter just as much as credentials.You’ll hear:Common limiting stories for both portfolio and mastery careers (and how to reframe them).How to spot the patterns that have been there all along, even when your CV looks “messy” or “too narrow.”Why your next move should be driven by identity, not fear.We wrap with practical coaching questions you can use right away to make sense of where you’ve been and what might be next.This episode is for you if:You’ve done a lot of different things and worry you “never stuck with anything.”You’ve gone deep in one area and feel stuck or trapped by your expertise.You’re somewhere in between and just want language and clarity for your journey.Listen in, grab a notebook, and start seeing your career through a kinder, clearer lens.ResourcesGo Coach Yourself! - You Are Not Your Job TitleGo Coach Yourself! - Uncovering Your X-Factor: Conversations on Honesty and Intention with Francesca RanieriHosts:Ryan Reichert-Estes, StackRise Coaching | LinkedIn | Insta: @stackrisecoachingVic Smith, WhistleSmith.co | LinkedIn | Insta: @vic_bk
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