In memory of Wally, 2011–2026

I'm re-releasing this episode today in honor of our beloved dog Wally, who passed away yesterday at 15 years old. He was one of the best things that ever happened to our family, and I can't think of a better tribute than sharing the wisdom he gave me.

I know — "life wisdom from a dog" sounds like it might be a little fluffy (which he was). But stick with me, because this episode contains wisdom that is both practical & world-shifting.

In this episode, I share three "bones of wisdom" from Wally:

1. Love what you love — without judgment. Drawing on Mary Oliver's poem "Wild Geese," I explore why so many high-achieving women have lost touch with what they actually want. Not because we're weak, but because we've spent years overriding our own desires. I explain how knowing what you want — even when you can't act on it — is a radical act of self-respect.

2. Dislike what you dislike — without judgment. I talk about a pattern I see constantly in my coaching work: smart, accomplished women who can see clearly when they're being treated poorly, but then judge themselves for having feelings about it. Wally had no problem letting us know when something bothered him. We could all use a little more of that.

3. Show up in love. This one is about the purest gift dogs give us — not just that they love us unconditionally, but that they let us love them without condition. I consider what it might mean to extend that same grace to ourselves.

This episode originally aired on my birthday. Today it's airing in Wally's honor — and my wish for all of us is the same as it was then: that every day, we love ourselves a little more, like our dogs love us.