Angela Jackson was living a life most people only dream of. As a high-profile executive at Nokia, she traveled the globe, navigating her career from the heart of New York City. Life was unfolding according to plan—until a life-changing car accident she never saw coming altered everything. During her recovery, Angela recognized a deeper calling, sparking a shift in her vision for her future. Today, Dr. Angela Jackson is the founder of Future Forward Strategies and a lecturer at Harvard University, advising Fortune 500 companies and policymakers on the rapidly changing landscape of tomorrow’s workplace. In this episode, Angela revisits the “negative blessing” of her accident. She also shares her shift which has her sitting at the intersection of leadership, purpose, business, and the future of work.

You can learn more about Dr. Angela Jackson's new book, The Win-Win Workplace here. 

With a career spanning over 20 years at top companies like Square, Microsoft, Amazon, and Etsy, Dave Brown has mastered the art of leading creative teams and building impactful brands. After a successful run as the founder of his own agency and record label, he made the choice to step into a 9-to-5 role, embracing the stability and fresh challenges it brought. In this episode, Dave reflects on the pros and cons of this shift, his dedication to connecting deeply with customers, and Square's recent billboard purchase above Mr. Beef (the restaurant where they film The Bear). Dave also shares insights on the spaces and routines that spark his creativity and his passion for mentoring others in their careers. Filled with humor, practical advice, and unique perspectives, Dave’s conversation with Ryan offers listeners a compelling look at the trade-offs between corporate life and hustle life along with the rewards of staying curious.

Katie McKenna, a professional speaker, leadership coach, and bestselling author, turned a life-altering accident into a powerful story of resilience. On a sunny morning in Brooklyn, Katie was run over by an 18-wheeler, an ordeal that she miraculously survived after 10 hours of emergency surgery. In her conversation with Ryan, Katie recounts that harrowing day and the moment she was told she might never walk again, a prognosis that led her to change the way her doctor delivers life-altering news. Now, with a mission to make life better for everyone she meets, Katie shares how she channels her experience into helping others overcome their own challenges with grit, hope, and humor. She also reveals whether she would change her past if given the chance and why she fiercely pursues joy, feeling blessed rather than entitled to life. And yes, she has gotten back on a bike—at Burning Man, no less, in an unforgettable moment of reclaiming her power.

8 curious questions. 5 minutes per answer. 1 legendary storyteller. We are switching things up on this week’s episode of the Courageous Podcast as Host Ryan Berman, armed with a referee's whistle, puts his guest, Ernest Lupinacci, on the hot seat.  In this advice packed episode, Ernest — a co-producer of “The Offer” — touches on how Francis Ford Coppola, Kurt Vonnegut, and Stephen King have all played important roles at different points throughout his career.  The two also discuss the make-up of every great story ever told (and sold), how fear is imaginary, and why Ernest considers himself more of a detective than a philosopher.

Our guest today defines what it means to be courageous.  Robert Duran is a father, husband and passionate cyclist. For the last decade, Robert has been riding through life navigating the rocky terrain that comes with being diagnosed with what many call a death sentence in Pancreatic Cancer.  In this very open and raw conversation with host Ryan Berman, Robert opens up about how he has been able to survive and thrive despite the odds against him. Robert shares how cycling has been a lifesaver during his battle with cancer, but was almost the thing that killed him. The two also discuss how “cutting the cord” from most electronics has allowed Robert to take his life back and live every moment in the present. It’s a moving and inspiring episode with a tremendous human being in honor of World Pancreatic Cancer Day on 11/17/2022.

57 USMNT goals. 57 USMNT assists. 3 World Cups. 1 dramatic extra-time World Cup goal against Algeria that sent America through to the final 16 in 2010. Landon Donovan is a name that needs no introduction to American soccer fans. On this episode of The Courageous Podcast, Landon literally joins Ryan on his way to Qatar. He shares what his next two weeks will be like, which American player he perceives will have the most courageous performance for Team USA and his predictions for which team he believes will end up hoisting the coveted World Cup Gold Trophy.  

With a billion monthly users, an average session length of 90 minutes, and 27 billion views on the hashtag #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt — there is a lot of commerce to unlock for any business or brand on TikTok. At the center of it all is Khartoon Weiss. Khartoon has been named “40 Over 40” by Campaign, “40 Under 40” by Advertising Age and “Top 50 Professionals". In her conversation with Ryan, the two discuss what it takes for any brand (at any size) to be successful on the platform. She also gives practical steps to help brands “think like marketers, but act like creators.”

If you say it, you will build it. If you build it, they will come. Jason Harris, Co-Founder & CEO of Mekanism, has worked with some of the most iconic, soulful brands on the planet including Peloton, Ben & Jerry’s, Method and Jose Cuervo. So much so that Mekanism was recently the desirable acquisition of Plus Company. In this episode, Ryan and Jason touch on what it’s like for Jason to now have a boss and the power of manifesting your own destiny (Code for: declaring out loud where you want to go then figuring out how to get there). They also unpack what it means to use a blend of Soul & Science in creating successful, courageous marketing campaigns.

For 300 years golf had remained the same. Then Topgolf came around. If you ask their Chief Marketing Officer Geoff Cottrill if Topgolf IS golf you’d be surprised to learn his answer. On this episode of The Courageous Podcast, we discuss how Topgolf is democratizing and diversifying the game. Geoff, on Forbes list of the 50 Most Entrepreneurial CMOs, and Ryan discuss what happens when sneaker culture meets golf culture and how to successfully introduce a new concept to the masses.

What would you do with 100 days away from your job? It’s a scenario most of us could only dream of. Today's guest believes it could be the key to living a more fulfilling and authentic life. DJ DiDonna is the founder of The Sabbatical Project.  In this episode of the Courageous Podcast, host Ryan Berman and DJ DiDonna discover that sabbaticals and courageous decisions can both serve as regret insurance for your future self.  DJ also speaks on what it will take to make sabbaticals more equitable for workers of all pay grades, and the importance of taking time for yourself before you feel like you need it.  It’s a thoughtful conversation that reminds us the importance of stepping away from our daily grind every once in a while to reset on our career and life journeys. 

10 years ago, when the founders of Airbnb asked Chip Conley to be their mentor, he had his doubts. He could not see his place at a young-blooded tech start-up where the average employee was half his age. But Chip is not one to back down from a challenge, and with the help of Airbnb co-founder Brian Chesky, he began embracing his new role as a “Modern Elder”. Chip is a self-proclaimed Zeitgeist Surfer, a rebel hospitality entrepreneur, a bestselling author, and the Founder of Modern Elder Academy, the world’s first midlife wisdom school that helps people cultivate and harvest their wisdom. In this episode of the Courageous Podcast, host Ryan Berman and Chip Conley explore what Chip is currently afraid of. They also discuss Chip’s time at Airbnb, the power of mentorship, and how the “great midlife edit” inspired Chip to launch The Modern Elder Academy. 

Communication is powerful.  Our guest today has proven that great communication changes individuals, companies, and societies for the better.  Patti Sanchez is the Chief Strategy Officer for Duarte, and has helped clients such as Nike, Cisco, Ericsson, and HP take their storytelling to the next level.  Through communication frameworks, storytelling techniques, and empathy exercises, Patti helps leaders and learners of all kinds understand the inner workings of the human mind and heart. She does so by crafting engaging narratives that resonate on a deep level. In this episode of The Courageous Podcast, host Ryan Berman and Patti Sanchez shed light on how to use storytelling to not only mobilize people to change, but to empower them to influence large-scale transformations.  Patti also shares some actionable advice on becoming a more effective communicator and speaks on why she believes a conversation is a more effective communication tool than a monologue.    

He helped bring two NHL teams to the Stanley Cup Finals. Aided a USA Hockey World Championship Team to a bronze medal. Rebuilt two college hockey programs from the ground up. It’s why Greg Carvel refers to himself more as a “program builder” than a “head coach”. In this episode of the Courageous Podcast, join host Ryan Berman and Coach Greg Carvel as they discuss why having more character than your opponent is an essential feature of a winning team. We’ll hear how Coach Carvel, over the course of four years, took the University of Massachusetts men’s Hockey Team from 58th (out of 60 Division 1 programs) to 2021 National Champions — all while maintaining the highest GPA of any athletic team on campus. It’s an inspirational episode that presents lessons that can be applied to life, business, and beyond! 

If you could pick up your phone right now and call the 18 year old version of yourself, what advice or feedback would you give that 1.0 person? On this episode, Danita Johnson, a member of Sports Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 and ESSENCE Power 40 Class of 2023, shares her answers. Danita, currently serving as the President of Business Operations for D.C. United, is the first Black President of an MLS Club. She is on a mission to make D.C. United one of the premier clubs in all of sports, focusing on both on-field success and off-field community impact. In this conversation with Ryan, she also shares her mantra, and how it guides her in controlling what she can while driving her ambitious vision for the club. Danita also offers an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the challenges and rewards of running an MLS team and how her club goes about celebrating victories across the organization.

What would it take to make you 10% happier? Ben Rubin believes that making small incremental changes, like spending a few minutes a day meditating, can make big impactful improvements in your life. Ben has spent the better part of his career at the intersection of technology and human behavior change. He is the Co-Founder & CEO at Ten Percent Happier, where he and his team are on a mission to convince fidgety skeptics that meditation isn’t as intimidating as it seems. In this episode of the podcast, host Ryan Berman and Ben Rubin unpack the question “How serious is the happiness business?”, which leads to some surprising and thought-provoking revelations. They also discuss how to find sweetness when experiencing sadness, and why if you don’t love what you are doing as an entrepreneur you may be fighting an uphill battle.

Growing up in a large Ohio blue collar family, inspired by her love of sport as a young girl, Beth Malafa told her mother she wanted to work for the NFL or the Olympics. Today, she has checked the box on both. In fact, Beth has found herself putting on events for the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS and the USOC.  On this episode of The Courageous Podcast with host Ryan Berman, we learn that Beth doesn’t simply embrace teamwork — but the importance of hard work in everything she creates for Under Armour. Beth shares what it’s like working with megastar athletes, her thoughts on the parallels between the sports and business worlds, and how memorable it was (to her) when she brought tears of joy to her brother's eyes at a Cleveland Browns game.  Learn to play the long game while enjoying this thoughtful and fun conversation.

What is your purpose? Lana McGilvray, Founder and CEO at Purpose Worldwide, helps her clients answer that question on the daily. Purpose Worldwide is a global public relations firm that specializes in helping clients drive their purpose and growth as they pioneer a better world for all. Lana has an extensive background in PR and is also a contributor to Ad Age, an Adobe Influencer, and an advisor to several purpose-driven startups. In this upbeat and insightful episode of the Courageous Podcast, host Ryan Berman reads a trio of business haikus to Lana and gets her reaction to each. Lana also opens up about the role fear has played in her life, especially in her formative years after losing her father at age 14, and how she has worked to courageously overcome this challenge to have a successful career and lead a fulfilling life. There are plenty of gems in this episode that you will not want to miss!

Repetition is reputation.  Michael Preysman, Founder and Climate Lead at Everlane, has earned his reputation by repeatedly delivering on his company's promise to “Help people live their best lives with the least impact on the planet."  The company pioneered the term ‘Radical Transparency’, and has lifted the veil on many aspects of the fashion industry from pricing mark-ups to factory processes.  Embodying the brand's transparent values, Michael has put environmental impact front and center through commitments in its supply chain to eliminate all virgin plastic by 2021 and to transition to organic cotton by 2023.  In this conversation with host Ryan Berman, Michael shares his philosophy on approaching life as a practice, the importance of taking time away from work to do things that “fill your bucket”, and how to overcome fear when it gets in the way of growth.  Be sure to tune in to this energizing episode of the Courageous Podcast!

AT&T, Ad Age, Xerox, NBC Universal. These are just a few of the companies that Josh Golden, Chief Marketing Officer at Quad, has had a hand in making courageous changes at. With a diverse career spanning over two decades, Josh’s wife accurately describes him as the Marco Polo of industry professions. Josh has earned a reputation as a catalyst to drive change within organizations.  In 2017, he led the repositioning of ‘Advertising Age’ to the more current ‘Ad Age’ — solidifying its place in a new digital era.  In this wide-ranging conversation, host Ryan Berman and Josh Golden discuss the importance of staying curious, which of the 300+ pieces of content Josh has made is his favorite, and his recent decision to share publicly his bout with epilepsy.  It’s another inspiring episode of the Courageous Podcast that you will not want to miss.

Do the scary thing. These are the words that our guest Miranda Prins lives by, and she has the track record to prove it.  Miranda currently sits as General Manager of Continental Europe at Kellogg company, a role that spans 10 markets, 30 nationalities, and is made up of a team of roughly 600 people who speak 6 different languages. Managing this incredibly diverse team is part of the reason why Miranda is so passionate about equity, diversity & inclusion at Kellogg’s and beyond. In this episode of the Courageous Podcast, Miranda joins host Ryan Berman from her home in Switzerland for an insightful conversation about the importance of lifting others up, being adaptive during challenges, and the role courageous ideas play today.  It’s an advice filled episode that every manager, marketer, and aspiring leader will not want to miss. 

Cheerios. Lucky Charms. Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Susan Pitt is a serial cerealist and seasoned Brand Experience Director who has spent just under a decade at General Mills believing none of the decisions we make as consumers are all that rational. As she puts it, “we’re all wired for story”. Susan dedicates her days to helping craft some of the world’s most iconic brands known in our culture. On this episode of the podcast, we learn of Susan’s career path starting out on the agency side. As an observationalist, she articulates the distinct differences between the MBA mentality found in most people on the brand side vs the scrappy nature of “agency life”. Her work at General Mills has earned Effies, Cannes Lions, One Show and others – all while living out her personal motto: doing serious work without taking herself too seriously.

There are creative gypsies among us. One of them is Romanian creative talent Mihnea Gheorghiu (Pronounced: Mee-na Gee-orge-ee-yew) who recently returned to Milan from Cannes as a fairly happy man thanks to his teams coveted work on Diesel. On this episode of the podcast, Mihnea, the Chief Creative Officer of Publicis Italia, shares his nomadic journey from Romania to the USA to Italy. We talked about the creative role in advertising: as he puts it, to, “Feel something in the shortest time possible.” We also covered the need for creators to stay curious, the importance of “asking seemingly stupid questions”, and the need to remain an entertainer. If you believe, like Mihnea, that “creativity is the enemy of comfort”, join us for a fast listen.

Ever wonder why your best ideas show up in mid shower? Or how you refreshingly feel different after spending the day next to an ocean on the beach? Today, we dive head first into the healing powers of water. We’re joined by the masterful J Nichols who was nicknamed “Keeper Of The Sea” by GQ Magazine. J has spent a career researching the benefits and impact water have on all of us. He is a marine biologist, PhD and author of the book “Blue Mind”. On this episode, J shares why we need to find moments to step away from terra firma to spend more time on, near or around lakes, pools, seas, hot tubs and more. 

"Don't just look at the world differently. Do the world differently.” This week’s guest is a profound talent who does both. IN-Q is an award-winning poet, multi-platinum songwriter, and the best-selling author of Inquire Within. His ability to deconstruct society and bend those observations into words landed him on Oprah's SuperSoul 100 list of the world's most influential thought leaders. He was the first spoken word artist to perform with Cirque du Soleil, and to be featured on A&E, ESPN, and HBO's Def Poetry Jam. His stand-up poetry special, IN-Q - Live at the Ace Theatre, is now streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. On this episode, IN-Q shares some of his new work. In the spirit of courage, IN-Q nudged the host to write and share one of his own poems as well.

Courageous or Outrageous? Does spirituality have a place in the workplace? Denise Lee Yohn and Steven Morris, two of the most respected voices in brand leadership and corporate culture, believe the answer is a yes. Denise, an in-demand keynote speaker and bestselling author of What Great Brands Do, and Steven, a brand and culture-building expert behind The Beautiful Business, bring decades of experience to this thought-provoking discussion. Together, they delve into the growing demand among millennials for companies that reflect their core values and the courage it takes to foster a workplace where employees feel safe to express their spirituality. Drawing on their extensive expertise, they offer a compelling argument for why integrating soul and purpose into business is not just possible, but essential for creating magnetic, sustainable organizations.

Does Spirituality Belong at Work? Read the mentioned article here! 

A birth. A death. An anniversary. A circled date on the calendar. A special occasion where sending flowers or chocolates can bring loved ones together; even when they're physically thousands of miles apart. Now, imagine if this memory-making moment doesn’t show up on time. This is the anxiety that comes with being Charlie Cole, the Chief Executive Officer of FTD, the modern florist collective. In this episode, Charlie and I discuss what it was like joining the company days before the lockdown in March 2020. Charlie shares what surprised him the most — that he didn’t know about — until after he accepted the job. Finally, we banter back and forth on where fear and courage show up for him as he tries to reinvent a legacy brand that deserves its own flowers for turning 112 years old. Enjoy.

Will Cady is many things. A conscious creator. An Emmy award-winning composer. A member of the 2020 AdWeek Top 50 for Tech, Media and Marketing. Like many, Will thoughtfully resides at Reddit's intersection of content, news, social media and trusted, vouched forum. On this episode, Will reveals what he believes is at the core of Reddit’s success. He expounds the importance of turning curiosity into understanding. And, above all, he shares what it means at Reddit to “remember the human”.

South African Marc Sidelsky believes in the power of storytelling, finding your voice and following it. Marc, an award-winning commercials director, tends to create scripts that disrupt and flourish in the market including his recent brave accomplishment of going straight to a CEO with an idea (Stussy X Nike) that one year later won honors at all major advertising festivals including the Clios, One Show and D&AD.  On this episode of the podcast, Marc shares where his passion for story-making started and gives smashing advice for anyone looking to push themselves in the content generation game. 

Lauren Verrusio is the Head of Creators, Culture & Content Partnership Communications at YouTube. Jennifer Zudonyi is a Senior Director of Brand & Consumer Marketing at Warner Bros Discovery, leading efforts around its NHL partnership. On this episode of the podcast, we hear the story of how two power women turn themselves into a power couple. Each shares their version of what it was like meeting each other in a male dominated world of sports. When did they feel safe coming out? How does their personal life now show up at work? What advice might they have for anyone looking to right a wrong they’re experiencing firsthand in society? We get into it all on this episode of the podcast.

Think Postpartum depression only happens with women? Think again. For our Father’s Day edition of The Courageous Podcast, we sit down for a brave conversation with pediatrician Dr. David Levine. David graduated with highest honors from NYU Medical School while completing his residency at Yale Children’s Hospital. Even with all his wisdom and accolades, life changed fast — and not all for the best — when David became a father. On this episode, David bares all and shares his fatiguing story of being a pediatrician who suffered from paternal postpartum in a time where there wasn’t a wink of literature on this topic. Fast forward to today. That lonely bout with depression steered David to take on the role as incoming Vice President of Postpartum Support International, the worlds leading organization supporting the mental health of new parents.

Aron Ezra is a thinker, innovator and serial entrepreneur with two major exits under his belt. While his wife might wish he’d take a break, Aron is currently in the thick of his third mega business as Chairman of Plan A Technologies; an award-winning software development firm serving startups to the Fortune 500 with offices in the US, Europe, Africa and Latin America. On this episode of The Courageous Podcast, Aron and I discuss all facets of the entrepreneurial journey. Where to start? How to ramp from small to big? When it’s time to go from scale to sale? If you have the stomach to go out on your own and you need some expert advice from someone who has “done it” twice, has won dozens of awards, and was named one of the Most Intriguing people in Las Vegas by Seven Magazine, then this is the episode for you. Enjoy.

Todd is the SVP, Digital Innovation & Fan Experience for the Seattle Kraken. A former hockey player turned entrepreneur, Todd is charged with redefining how Seattle fans experience the game in a city with deep hockey history, but one that hasn’t had an NHL team in almost one hundred years. On this episode, we discuss life just before the launching of the Kraken brand. We learn how it all started at a conversational breakfast where Todd joined two Leiweke brothers and famed movie maker Jerry Bruckheimer. If you want an inside look at the then best kept secret in hockey, how the Kraken earned it’s late-in-the-game “red eye” in their logo, or were just curious how they put in the work to craft the first net zero carbon-arena, then this is the episode for you.

Ever show up to a party with a 6-pack of water? If you have, you most likely haven’t been invited back. Unless that sixer was comprised of stone-cold tallboys from Liquid Death Mountain Water. In just three short years, LDMW is “murdering thirst” by disrupting a boring-than-still-water commodity category. At the center of it all is Greg Fass; recently named by Forbes as one of 50 most Entrepreneurial CMO’s of 2022. On this episode of The Courageous Podcast, we are joined by Greg who has made a name for himself as a builder of consumer brands. He was the 2nd full-time employee at MeUndies, where he was at the forefront of non-traditional social-first brand marketing. Today, as Liquid Death Mountain Water’s VP of Marketing, he takes great pride in subverting all water category conventions. Greg grew up in the snow, skate, and surf world and unapologetically shares that he hates corporate marketing, in his words, “as much as everyone else”.

Some would say it’s hard to lose yourself if you had yet to truly find yourself. This is the story of how one man went from city-to-city searching for his purpose while stumbling through a divorce and a soul-crushing bankruptcy only to come out the other side building a multi 7-figure empire. On this episode of The Courageous Podcast, we meet Ryan Weeden who had lost everything — not just money; but himself. Today, this “Hairpreneur”, Founder and CEO of Masters of Balayage, happily helps thousands across his global audience not just navigate with what’s happening on their minds (their hair) but what’s happening in their minds! We’ll hear Ryan's personal trials and tribulations that he felt he had to go through in order to come out the other side as the man he is today. Enjoy.

On this episode of The Courageous Podcast, we sit down with Bjorn Trowery who joined Meta’s Communications/PR team near the beginning of the pandemic and the tail end of the brand formerly known as Facebook. We discuss what it’s like for Bjorn to establish credibility with a new team handcuffed away from his “personal superpower”; his ability to be live, collaborating and in-person.

Jeremy Lowenstein, a global brand strategist and marketing visionary, has been instrumental in catapulting Milani to the forefront of the beauty industry as the leading multicultural brand.  His experience at beauty giants like Aveda and Sally Hansen has equipped him with a unique ability to craft compelling brand stories that resonate across diverse markets. In his conversation with Ryan, Jeremy talks about how his approach to inclusivity is inherent to Milani’s DNA, allowing it to resonate effortlessly across 40 countries.  He also discusses how TikTok and strategic partnerships, like the one with Olympic athlete Jordan Chiles, have amplified Milani’s message worldwide.  Jeremy also shares why makeup is not about changing who you are but embracing and enhancing your true self, offering valuable advice (to Ryan and others) on how to communicate this to the next generation.

What does an asthmatic, a Rower, the co-founder of The Perfect Pushup and a Navy SEAL-turned-Platoon Commander have in common? All of them were my guest on this weeks episode of The Courageous Podcast. Alden Mills is one of a kind. He’s on a mission to help 100 million people be unstoppable. He strives to achieve this feat by being a keynote speaker, an executive coach and the epitome of courage. What else did I learn about Alden from our 45 minute conversation? For being a Platoon Commander, he is also a humble human. If you want to learn what it’s like to survive asthma and still become a Navy SEAL, if you aspire to be unstoppable, or if you care to hear why Alden has a bone to pick with Harvard, throw this episode between your ears.

Rhett Power is a Best-Selling Author, Executive Coach, Columnist at Forbes, and a Season 1 Cast Member of The Social Movement (TV Series). Rhett is also the Co-founder of Accountability Inc. and is host of Power Lunch Live; one of the first and most popular interview shows on LinkedIn. On this episode, we flip the script on Rhett as he’s usually the one asking thought leaders, authors, and business executives their secrets to success. We talk about Rhett’s transformation from product entrepreneur to becoming a member of the Marshall Goldsmith's 100. We also go behind the curtain on why Rhett and I came together every Friday during the pandemic to provide an hour long online forum where people could congregate, be inspired, learn and keep it real with one another. Enjoy.

Approximately 13 million adopted pets have found their way into homes over the course of the pandemic. While we’ve taken in our lovable new fur babies over the last two years, many of us are heading back into the working world leaving our pets behind (and alone) for the very first time. In dog years, that’s over a decade and a half of their life! Mental health isn’t simply something humans are dealing with; our four legged children will be coping with their own new levels of anxiety. Enter the team at Petco and Chief Marketing Officer Katie Nauman. On this episode of the podcast, Katie and I discuss Petco’s shifting business to provide more holistic solutions for our pets and their owners. We chinwag on all the pet people working for the company and discuss how the idea of “bring a pet to work” is a year round ordeal in their culture. And, if you ever wanted to know how to go from an $8 an hour job to the Chief Marketing Officer at Petco, then this is the episode for you.

Rihanna. Neymar. Dua Lipa. Usain Bolt. Lewis Hamilton. These are a few of our iconic favorites who set the tone across the globe in style and culture. Collaborating with these originals is one of the world’s leading brands in sports today. On this episode of The Courageous Podcast, CEO and President of PUMA North America Bob Philion shares what it’s like to steer the “Big Cat” under the “forever faster” mantra. We dive into what it has been like for Bob getting to know these larger-than-life superstars. We chat about PUMA’s “Run Towards Change” reform platform and discuss how “the casualization of life” has really worked in PUMA’s favor. While we don’t delve too deep on “The Great Reshuffle”…we do get into “The Great Shuffle”; which entails Bob and his daughter showcasing their dance moves on social to pass the time during the pandemic. Enjoy!

Peyton Manning. Drew Brees. Eli Manning. Each of these Super Bowl winning quarterbacks relied on Bennie Fowler to run routes, block or catch passes over the course of his 8-year NFL career. But as Bennie will tell you, each of the above drew him to his current passion of helping executives and organizations maximize their performance. Today, Bennie is an entrepreneur, the creator of MVP leadership (cliff hanger opportunity: the MVP doesn’t stand for what you think) and the author of the book Silver Spoon. As you’ll soon learn from our episode, Bennie first learned to love leadership from his father Bennie Fowler Senior who was a high ranking executive at the Ford Motor Company. We discuss their relationship, Bennie's road to the NFL and his current role guiding leaders in business today.

“I don’t know, but I’ll figure it out”. 20 years ago, these were the words murmured by an unfilled-at-the-time Sam Zien to his wife after he quit his job as a biotech operator. It was then that he realized that something in his life didn’t feel right. One morning, now unemployed, Sam recalls watching “one of the worst cooking segments” on a local San Diego channel when the idea came to him; launch a cooking show. Only problem? Sam didn’t know how to cook. Today, Sam Zien, is known as “Sam The Cooking Guy”. He is quickly approaching 3,500,000 YouTube channel subscribers while his 5th cookbook “Sam The Cooking Guy: Between The Buns” comes out this May. On this episode of The Courageous Podcast, Sam shares how he went from averaging $8,000 a year over his first two years to becoming the Emmy-Award winning playful personality many of us have come to love today. Enjoy.

There are presently 171,476 words making up our English Dictionary. And with all those choices, you can see how many leaders fumble their way through picking the very right words to help motivate their people, navigate hard conversations, or galvanize a consumer base. Enter Molly Tschang who is a problem solver extraordinaire, lexicon rock star, and the Host of the radio show Say It Skillfully®. Molly envisions a world where people speak without fear and feel heard. She's passionate about each of us being who we are and helping others say what needs to be said, skillfully. Most believe actions speak louder than words. Until, of course, words fail them. On this episode of The Courageous Podcast, Molly gives us a little taste of her skill including what it takes to let go of what doesn’t serve us. Enjoy.

In the 90th minute on a beautiful California day, in front of 25,000 raving fans, the day got instantaneously more sunny for today’s guest when Javier Hernandez (“Chicharito”) went on to score the lone goal in a 1-0 opening day LA Galaxy win against MLS champions NYCFC. On this episode of The Courageous Podcast, we are joined by the President of the LA Galaxy Chris Klein. As the leader of a club with the most MLS Championships in history, the expectation to compete and win remains at an all-time high. Chris and I discuss the state of both the LA Galaxy and US soccer, the pressure that comes with his title and his rocketship ride from player-to-President; including a handful of mentors who helped him along the way. Enjoy.

Emily Musil Church, Ph.D. specializes in tech for good, entrepreneurship, and prize competitions. She spent a half dozen years at the XPRIZE Foundation and served as Executive Director of the human equity domain. Today, she continues her good work running world-changing, “crowdsourced" prize competitions at Milken Institute. On this episode of The Courageous Podcast, we discuss where her philanthropic gene came from, the potential outcomes of a prize that can change the world and her recently announced finalists of the Milken-Motsepe Innovation Prize.

Today, there’s a video camera in everyone's pocket. But long before we coined the term influencers there were just people with influence. Back in 2010, HBO decided to take a chance on two of them: The Neistat Brothers. Van and Casey Neistat once described their series that was picked up by HBO as "a handmade home movie TV show”. While the democratization of content is here and now, eclectic Van Neistat remains a master storyteller, talented artist and DIY movie maker. From my lens, he truly ranks as one of the most interesting minds in America. Our discussion spans far and wide including his current Youtube endeavor, "The Spirited Man”, his relationship with his brother Casey and a few of our life adventures that included his Baja motorcycle trek (where Van brought along two total strangers) to my wedding. Enjoy.

Sportbike racer, track & field All-American, multi-patent holder, biometric lab creator, The Wall Street Journal’s Marketers That Matter Visionaries, and Adweek’s 50 Most Important People are just a few of Walter Geer’s self-earned accolades. Currently the Chief Creative Officer of Innovation at VML, he has developed commercials, ad experiences, products and implemented creative strategies for brands including Progressive, Advil, and Google. In his conversation with Ryan, Walter shares his surreal and harrowing experience of surviving a stroke, the life-saving decision to take an experimental drug, and the pivotal role his wife played in his survival. The two also explore his groundbreaking work as a founder of Blackweek, an inclusive conference and economic forum driving opportunities for diverse businesses and professionals. Tune in to this episode to discover Walter's insights on the evolving role of creative leadership and the fearless approach required to make meaningful change.

Nice gets a bad wrap. But Adam Morgan is one of the true nice guys who has successfully navigated the creative business space. On this episode of The Courageous Podcast, we are joined by the affable Adam Morgan who is Adobe's Executive Creative Director. We discuss a panoply of topics including how C-Suites can better understand the impact creativity has on its bottom line as well as Adam’s challenge to creatives; to “reach across the silo” and better understand the nuances of marketing and business. Who better to provide a point of view on the paramount importance of creative leadership than someone who has spent over two decades running creative departments at brands and agencies. Enjoy.

She’s not only back from Beijing, but she has returned to the States with the ultimate mantlepiece. Aerial Mogulist and freshly minted Olympic Silver Medal winner Jaelin Kauf shares her whirlwind two weeks from navigating a Covid Olympics from the other side of the world to her mother surprising her “live” on The Today Show during her media tour in New York City. Jaelin relives her run, discusses “if she feels different” and confides where she hopes her picture will NOT go when they add it to the US Ski & Snowboard Center Of Excellence in Park City, Utah. We also discuss the history that was made with 4 US athletes finishing in the top 10 of her event, the work we did together on manifesting “Deliver The Love” and what comes next for the Olympic medalist. Enjoy.

Walter Geer isn’t simply a talented black creative — he’s a talented creative (period, full stop). Walt takes great pride sitting at the intersection of design, data, innovation and storytelling. On this episode of The Courageous Podcast, we zip around discussing his work as a leader in the digital advertising space as well as his monumental work as a DEI advocate. We dive deep to address race, fairness, talent and if he’s seen any real progress in diversification of the board room. Walt also shares what drives him as well as what he has learned from his unique (and public) conversation with Proctor & Gamble’s Chief Brand Officer Marc Pritchard. Savoy Magazine listed him as one of the most Influential Black Execs in Corporate America. Adweek named him as one of their 50 most important people in media, marketing and tech. If you’re ready to keep it real, then hit play on this conversation between your ears.