Go Coach Yourself!

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Ever wondered what coaches mean when they say they’re Co-Active? In this behind-the-scenes episode, Ryan and Vic unpack what Co-Active Coaching really is — not as a training manual, but as the mindset that shapes how they coach, lead, and live.

They share how they each discovered the Co-Active model (spoiler: it starts with our mutual friend named Lisa), and explore its four cornerstones and three core principles.

You’ll also hear how Co-Active has shaped who they are as humans — not just coaches. From learning to stay with emotion, to designing alliances, to trusting the process of change, this episode offers both inspiration and practical insight.

Resources mentioned:

• Learn more about Co-Active
• The Co-Active Coaching Model
• Go Coach Yourself: Building Perspectives
• Go Coach Yourself: Leader Within

Hosts:

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

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

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We’ve all heard it: “Bring your whole self to work.” Or maybe it’s “Show up as your best self.” Lately, though, the conversation has started to shift. Some people are pushing back—saying that maybe your “whole self” isn’t what every space needs. In this episode, Ryan and Vic unpack what’s behind these buzzwords and explore how to navigate authenticity, discernment, and emotional intelligence in real life.

Together, they explore the differences between your whole self, best self, and higher self—and what it looks like to choose which version of you to bring forward based on context, safety, and purpose. The conversation moves from the pitfalls of unfiltered “wholeness,” to the exhaustion of trying to be your “best” all the time, to the power of showing up from your higher self—that calm, aware part of you that acts with alignment and service, not ego.

It’s a thoughtful, funny, and refreshingly real take on what it actually means to “bring yourself” to the world—and how to do it without losing who you are in the process.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Dr. Victoria Mattingly on authenticity + emotional intelligence
• Dr. Paige Williams on focusing on your true self
• Go Coach Yourself: Self-Awareness, part of EQ (helpful pairing)

Hosts:

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

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

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In this episode of Go Coach Yourself! Ryan and Vic talk about what it means to build a life you want to share with others. The episode is inspired by Vic's 50th Birthday celebration, where she invited 15 friends from around the globe to spend the weekend in NYC. 

They emphasize the importance of incremental changes and deliberate choices to align with your values and purpose and share personal anecdotes about significant decisions and daily habits that brought them to where they are now. Recognizing everyone's journey is different, Vic and Ryan encourage listeners to envision their future selves, adopt small, bridge habits, and embrace discomfort as a growth opportunity. Practical steps include a vision exercise and auditing recent decisions.

Hosts:

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

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

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Join Vic and Ryan as they discuss passion on this week's episode of Go Coach Yourself!  This inspriation for this episode was a recent line of people Vic saw on the street in New York City it prompted the question: what am I so passionate about that I would stand in line for it? This episode is a response to that question.

In this episode they dive into what passion is, where it comes from, how you find it and how you nurture it. If you want to find out more about what you would stand in line for and more importantly why - listen in.

If you want to uncover your passion and what drives your success check out Ryan's Ignite The Spark series.

Mentioned in this podcast episode:

Bros, When Will I be Famous

Link to previous episode:

Building New Perspectives

Hosts:

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

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

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What happens when your job title becomes your identity? In this episode, Ryan and Vic unpack the modern trap of defining yourself by your career — and what it takes to find a deeper sense of purpose and fulfillment beyond work.

They explore how brand prestige and job titles can quietly shape our self-worth, share personal experiences from Nike, Google, and Amazon, and bring in psychology research that explains why we cling so tightly to professional identities.

Listeners will walk away with practical tools and reflection questions to start separating who you are from what you do.

In This Episode:

• Why 70% of people say work is their main source of identity
• How “work-role centrality” impacts your confidence and resilience
• What research shows about the difference between a job, career, and calling
• Personal stories of redefining identity beyond corporate prestige
• Four reflection tools to expand your sense of self

Reflection Prompts:

1. What sentence captures why you do what you do?
2. Which non-work role in your life deserves more of your energy right now?
3. If money and status were off the table, how would you define success?
4. Where does your compass need to point this week to feel aligned?

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Amy Wrzesniewski’s research on “Job, Career, or Calling” (Yale University)
• Robert Leahy in Psychology Today, "You Are Not Your Job"

If you’re in transition:

Ryan’s Foundation Series: Being Uniquely You helps you rediscover who you are beyond your job title through a 3-session small group experience.

Learn more here →

Hosts:

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

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

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What does it really mean to lead with kindness? And how is kindness different from simply being nice—or even from care?

In this episode of Go Coach Yourself, Ryan and Vic sit down with friend and colleague Sue Brisbois, founder of Brizboy Works, to explore how curiosity, problem-solving, and kindness intersect in both work and life.

Sue shares her philosophy of falling in love with the problem, not the solution, how curiosity can transform constraints into opportunities, and why kindness often requires courage and intentionality. Together, they unpack how environments shape whether kindness can thrive, the tension between command-and-control leadership vs. psychological safety, and why kindness is a conscious choice we make again and again.

If you’ve ever wondered how to bring more authenticity, curiosity, and courage into your leadership—or into your everyday interactions—this conversation is for you.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why understanding the problem deeply accelerates finding the right solution
• The difference between being nice and being kind
• How curiosity and kindness create conditions for better work and stronger relationships
• The role of psychological safety in allowing kindness to flourish
• Why kindness is a choice we must make with intention

Resources & Links Mentioned:

• Humankind by Rutger Bregman
• Amy Edmondson’s TED Talk on Psychological Safety
• Past Go Coach Yourself! episodes on Values and Self-Awareness 
• Connect with Sue: brizboy.com | Sue on LinkedIn

Hosts:

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

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

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In this summer short, Ryan shares the story of a 400-square-foot cabin in Landers, California that became an unexpected stepping stone to something bigger. What started as a real estate investment and side hustle turned into a transformative experience that ultimately led Ryan and his husband to make an even bolder leap to Spain.

Main Takeaways

• Dreams can evolve and serve as preparation for bigger opportunities
• Sometimes the bravest thing is to thank an old dream and step into a new one
• Ask yourself: Is this dream still serving your growth or has it become a constraint?
• Letting go doesn't diminish what something meant to you—it honors it
• Trust that your dreams are allowed to evolve just as you do

Reflection Questions

• What dream are you holding onto that might actually be a stepping stone to something bigger?
• If you're feeling torn about letting something go, ask yourself: Did it already give you what you needed?
• Is holding on keeping you from saying yes to what wants to emerge next?

Next Episode Preview The hosts return next week with a full-length conversation with Sue Brisbois about kindness—don't miss it!

Note: This marks the final summer short of the season as the show transitions back to longer format episodes.

Hosts:

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

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

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In this Summer Shorts episode of Go Coach Yourself!, join hosts Ryan and Vic as they explore the power of words and how a small gesture can leave a lasting impression. 

They discuss the importance of being intentional with your words and how they shape future connections and friendships. Tune in for an inspiring conversation filled with personal revelations and valuable insights on the impact of what we say. 

Don't miss out on another enlightening Summer Short!

Hosts:

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

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

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In this summer short, Ryan shares his journey from avoiding advanced Sudoku puzzles to embracing them, revealing powerful lessons about growth mindset and the transformative power of adding "yet" to our limitations. What starts as a story about number grids becomes a coaching metaphor about moving from unconscious incompetence to conscious competence.

Key Takeaways

• The difference between "I can't do this" and "I can't do this, yet"
• Understanding the four stages of competence and why the messy middle matters
• How missing vocabulary or skills can masquerade as lack of ability
• The power of curiosity over certainty when facing challenges
• Why every expert was once a beginner who felt completely lost

Questions for Reflection

• What have you decided you "just can't do"?
• What if it's not about talent or ability, but simply about learning the next skill?
• When you hit a wall, what questions are you asking yourself?

Resources Mentioned

• Cracking the Cryptic - YouTube channel featuring Simon Anthony & Mark Goodliffe solving advanced Sudoku puzzles
• Previous Episode: The Pistol Squat - Vic's story about overcoming limiting beliefs through action

Hosts:

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

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

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In this Summer Shorts episode of Go Coach Yourself! Vic share a personal story about being heckled during a work event and being unable to respond appropriately in the moment.

What this story highlights:

• How reacting without thinking can impact how we see ourselves and how others experience us.
• Pulling on Viktor Frankl's work of creating space between the stimulus and response, Ryan and Vic talk about how to create space to react intentionally. 

Reflection questions to consider:

• How much space are you intentionally putting between the stimulus and the response?
• If you had total control of your behavior, what would you do differently?

Hosts:

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

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