You Don’t Know Me…Yet: Questions That Build Real Connection

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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