The Digital Contrarian – Details, episodes & analysis

TDC 076: Worldviews from Viewers: Real Perspectives On How to Make Sense of this Post-AI World...

World views from readers reveal what's really shaping how thoughtful people navigate today's chaos.

Episode Summary

In this special episode of The Digital Contrarian, host Ryan Levesque shares thought-provoking reader responses to last week's worldview challenge.

You'll discover seven diverse principles shaping how people make sense of this moment in history, explore frameworks for navigating complexity, and hear perspectives that might challenge your own assumptions.

Question of the Day 🗣️

Which of these seven worldview principles resonates most with you? Where do you agree or disagree?

Key Take-aways

• Your body often knows the truth before your mind admits it—physical responses reveal when you're performing vs. being authentic
• Historical patterns repeat; understanding the past helps us recognize dangerous parallels in current events
• Humans aren't inherently good or evil but have capacity for both—the need to belong drives most decisions
• 99% of people are kindhearted when encountered one-on-one; hate comes from creating "us vs. them" dynamics
• Nothing in the universe happens randomly—everything is cause and effect, we just haven't found the pattern yet

Timestamped Outline ⏱️

00:00 – World views from readers introduction
00:42 – Why today's episode is different
01:40 – Principle #1: Brad Did - When your body tells the truth
02:10 – Principle #2: Kurt Varner - Those who forget history
02:45 – Principle #3: Kristen Carter - Neither all good nor all evil
03:45 – Principle #4: Andrew Skinner - 99% of people are kindhearted
04:17 – Principle #5: Randall Porter - Nothing happens at random
05:03 – Principle #6: Damien Bowler - Tribe 2.0 and vertical economies
05:51 – Principle #7: Jane Olinder - A new balance is coming
08:01 – Final thoughts and invitation to reflect

Links & Resources 🔗

👉 Issue 076 of The Digital Contrarian: "How to Craft Your Worldview with AI"

📄 https://ryanlevesque.net/how-to-craft-your-worldview-with-ai/

🎥 https://youtu.be/tOjQruLODlM

Book mentioned: "1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History" by Andrew Ross Sorkin → https://www.amazon.com/1929-Inside-Greatest-History-Shattered/dp/0593296966

Connect & CTA 🎯

👉 Enjoyed this? Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

🎁 Join 100 000+ digital entrepreneurs who get Ryan's "Strategic Insights for Digital Entrepreneurs Who Think Differently" every weekend: https://ryanlevesque.net/join-the-digital-contrarian/

Credits

Host: Ryan Levesque
© 2025 RL & Associates LLC. All rights reserved.

TDC 075: How To Craft Your Worldview With AI

What I learned at Tony Robbins and Dean Graziosi's $250,000 private mastermind this week.

Episode Summary

In this episode of The Digital Contrarian, host Ryan Levesque dives into building a comprehensive worldview and why it's your hidden operating system.

You'll learn how to surface your existing beliefs, discover the three levels of reality that shape decisions, and explore a six-step AI-assisted process for crafting worldviews that drive real results.

Question of the Day 🗣️

What's one principle that deeply shapes how you see the world, and where did it come from?

Key Take-aways

• Your worldview is the combination of what you believe is true, patterns you notice, and how you act
• The world operates cyclically not linearly—learn the cycle and phase to predict what's next
• Energy is the base layer of everything; capitalism is just turning energy into useful stuff
• There are three levels of reality: objective, subjective, and inter-subjective
• Green fruit marketing focuses on nurturing prospects over time, not just picking ripe fruit

Timestamped Outline ⏱️

00:00 – Cold open & hook
00:39 – Your hidden operating system: why worldviews matter
02:38 – Deep convictions loosely held: three lenses
04:11 – The world operates cyclically, not linearly
06:47 – Energy is the base layer of human experience
07:52 – Three levels of reality: objective, subjective, inter-subjective
09:01 – Lessons from a $40 million product launch
11:23 – How to build your worldview with AI
11:52 – Step 1: Surface what you already have
12:33 – Step 2: Articulate 5-10 strong beliefs loosely held
13:26 – Step 3: Choose your faculty of thinkers
15:00 – Step 4: Stress test with dissonance
15:48 – Step 5: Connect worldview to real decisions
17:14 – Step 6: Create a review rhythm
18:24 – Your turn: one principle reshaping your worldview

Links & Resources 🔗

👉 Issue 046 of The Digital Contrarian: "Brace for Impact"

📄 https://ryanlevesque.net/brace-for-impact/ 

👉 Issue 022 of The Digital Contrarian: "How to See Hidden Patterns"

📄 https://ryanlevesque.net/hidden-patterns-others-completely-miss/ 

👉 Issue 028 of The Digital Contrarian: "The Return to Real Movement"

📄 https://ryanlevesque.net/the-return-to-real-movement/ 

👉 Issue 042 of The Digital Contrarian: "How to Keep Your Head Straight…"

📄 https://ryanlevesque.net/how-to-keep-your-head-straight/ 

👉 Get on the waitlist for "The Return to Real": https://ryanlevesque.net/return-to-real-book/ 

👉 Subscribe to The Digital Contrarian newsletter: https://thedigitalcontrarian.com 

Each week, I share frameworks and contrarian strategies for finding meaning and building resilience in both business and life.

Connect & CTA 🎯

👉 Enjoyed this? Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

🎁 Join 100 000+ digital entrepreneurs who get Ryan's "Strategic Insights for Digital Entrepreneurs Who Think Differently" every weekend: https://ryanlevesque.net/join-the-digital-contrarian/

Credits

Host: Ryan Levesque
© 2025 RL & Associates LLC. All rights reserved.

TDC 066: A Crazy Person's Guide to Living Life in an AI World

Each ChatGPT usage category reveals what humans are desperately craving in an AI-saturated world.

Episode Summary

In this episode of The Digital Contrarian, host Ryan Levesque dives into OpenAI's first-ever ChatGPT usage study.

You'll learn how each AI usage category reveals human hunger for authentic connection, discover the "Return to Real" opportunity hiding within seven major verticals, and uncover why the world needs more heart, humor, and humanity and not more artificial intelligence.

Question of the Day 🗣️

Which of the seven wedges resonates most with YOUR life right now? Where are you craving more "real" and less "artificial"?

Key Take-aways

• Every AI usage category reveals where people are yearning for what's deeply human and authentic
• Personal writing (18%) shows hunger for genuine voice—opportunities in storytelling and book clubs
• Tutoring (10.2%) reveals desire for someone who sees you—think micro schools and apprenticeships
• Health/fitness (5.7%) shows craving to feel alive—outdoor adventure travel is fastest growing tourism
• The subtext of all AI usage: people want more time doing what's really meaningful and precious

Timestamped Outline ⏱️

00:00 – A crazy person's guide to living in an AI world
01:16 – OpenAI's groundbreaking usage study revealed
02:30 – The overlooked angle everyone's missing
03:27 – Why each AI vertical reveals human hunger
04:08 – Wedge #1: Personal Writing (18%) - Heart, Humor, Humanity
04:50 – Wedge #2: Tutoring (10.2%) - Hands in the Dirt
05:06 – Wedge #3: How-To Advice (8.5%) - Going Analog
05:46 – Wedge #4: Health & Fitness (5.7%) - Best Things Don't Scale
06:17 – Wedge #5: Translation (4.5%) - Oxytocin Over Dopamine
07:03 – Wedge #6: Programming (4.2%) - Category of One
07:51 – Wedge #7: Products (2.1%) - Between Death and Danger
08:26 – The real subtext behind all AI usage
09:03 – Why I stay up past midnight beating this drum
09:42 – Your call to action: Bang your drum

Links & Resources 🔗

OpenAI ChatGPT Usage Study (NBER Working Paper) → https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w34255/w34255.pdf
The Digital Contrarian newsletter → https://thedigitalcontrarian.com

Connect & CTA 🎯

👉 Enjoyed this? Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
🎁 Join 100 000+ digital entrepreneurs who get Ryan's "Strategic Insights for Digital Entrepreneurs Who Think Differently" every weekend: https://ryanlevesque.net/join-the-digital-contrarian/

Credits
Host: Ryan Levesque
© 2025 RL & Associates LLC. All rights reserved.

TDC 065:The AI Battle Brewing Beneath the Surface Plus 27 Vermont Farm Mastermind Takeaways

Episode Summary

In this episode of The Digital Contrarian, host Ryan Levesque dives into the $1.5 billion Anthropic settlement and its implications for content creators.

You'll learn why we may be exiting the "Napster era" of AI, discover the contrarian content strategy behind our first viral YouTube video, and explore 27 transformative insights from the Vermont Farm Mastermind Experience.

Question of the Day 🗣️

What's your biggest takeaway from the 27 Vermont insights? Which one could transform your business?

Key Take-aways

• The $1.5 billion Anthropic settlement signals a shift from the "Napster era" to the "Spotify era" of AI
• YouTube may be the next AI battleground as the last non-AI powered search engine
• Single source of truth content can generate viral breakthrough results (27K+ views in 18 weeks)
• Strategic content ecosystems outperform shallow algorithm gaming every time
• Vermont Farm Mastermind revealed 27 transformative business and life insights

Timestamped Outline ⏱️

00:00 – The AI battle brewing beneath the surface
00:48 – $1.5 billion Anthropic settlement breakdown
02:15 – From Napster era to Spotify era of AI
03:40 – YouTube as the next AI battleground
04:30 – Town Hall announcement: October 2nd
05:35 – Unexpected YouTube breakthrough explained
06:35 – Vermont Farm Mastermind experience
07:25 – 27 takeaways from Maeve Ferguson's perspective

Links & Resources 🔗

• Issue #055 of The Digital Contrarian – "My Contrarian YouTube Strategy" → https://ryanlevesque.net/podcast/tdc-055-my-contrarian-youtube-strategy-building-a-strategic-content-ecosystem-part-2/
• Issue #031 of The Digital Contrarian – "Cultivating Influence vs. Chasing Attention" → https://ryanlevesque.net/cultivating-influence-vs-chasing-attention/
• Vermont Farm Mastermind Takeaways → https://maeveferguson.substack.com/p/27-takeaways-from-ryan-levesques
• Check if your videos were scraped → https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2025/09/youtube-ai-training-data-sets/684116/
• The Digital Contrarian newsletter → http://thedigitalcontrarian.com/

Connect & CTA 🎯

👉 Enjoyed this? Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

🎁 Join 100 000+ digital entrepreneurs who get Ryan's "Strategic Insights for Digital Entrepreneurs Who Think Differently" every weekend: https://ryanlevesque.net/join-the-digital-contrarian/

Credits

Host: Ryan Levesque
© 2025 RL & Associates LLC. All rights reserved.

TDC 064: The Market Shift Nobody Sees Coming (While You're Distracted by AI)

Paid media costs are dropping to 18-month lows—here's what this unexpected trend could mean for your business.

Episode Summary

In this episode of The Digital Contrarian, host Ryan Levesque shares a surprising market observation from his Vermont farm as he prepares to host the first Return to Real mastermind.

You'll discover an unexpected shift in paid media costs, learn why this contradicts conventional wisdom, and explore what this opportunity means for digital entrepreneurs who are paying attention.

Question of the Day 🗣️

Are you seeing any unexpected shifts in your paid media costs recently? Comment "TOWN HALL" if you'd be interested in a deeper dive into this market trend!

Key Take-aways

• Paid media costs on Meta are hitting 18-month lows, defying expectations
• This shift represents a potential major opportunity for businesses paying attention
• The market dynamics are different from last year's "Great Sea Change"
• Strategic timing matters when everyone else is distracted by AI trends

Timestamped Outline ⏱️

00:00 – Cold open & surprising non-AI trend
01:00 – The unexpected paid media cost shift
01:42 – Why this contradicts last year's predictions
02:18 – Balancing multiple commitments and gauging interest
03:06 – Digital Contrarian podcast update and gift
04:00 – Final thoughts from the farm

Links & Resources 🔗

• Digital Contrarian Podcast (all episodes) → https://ryanlevesque.net/podcast/
• The Digital Contrarian newsletter → https://thedigitalcontrarian.com

Connect & CTA 🎯

👉 Enjoyed this? Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

🎁 Join 100 000+ digital entrepreneurs who get Ryan's "Strategic Insights for Digital Entrepreneurs Who Think Differently" every weekend: https://ryanlevesque.net/join-the-digital-contrarian/

Credits

Host: Ryan Levesque
© 2025 RL & Associates LLC. All rights reserved.

TDC 063: 5 AI Infographics That Will Blow Your Mind

Five shocking AI infographics reveal hidden truths about data centers, jobs, and what AI is doing to your brain.

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Episode Summary

In this episode of The Digital Contrarian, host Ryan Levesque shares five mind-blowing AI infographics from his personal collection.

You'll discover hard evidence that AI is killing jobs for young people, learn why data centers now consume more power than entire countries, and see shocking MIT research on what ChatGPT does to your brain connectivity.

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Question of the Day 🗣️

Which of these five infographics impacts you most, and how are you preparing for the changes they reveal?

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Key Take-aways

- Data centers are consuming more electricity than entire countries, creating unprecedented infrastructure demands
- First hard evidence shows AI is disproportionately eliminating entry-level jobs for young workers
- MIT study reveals 83% of ChatGPT users can't recall sentences they wrote minutes earlier
- Ten core skills emerge as essential for thriving in the 2030 economy
- AI training relies heavily on Reddit data, creating potential accuracy and bias issues

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Timestamped Outline ⏱️

00:00 – Five AI infographics that will blow your mind
00:48 – My infographic collection obsession
02:15 – Data centers consuming more power than countries
03:40 – First hard evidence AI is killing young jobs
05:35 – Ten core skills to master by 2030
06:35 – Your brain on ChatGPT: the shocking study
08:30 – AI gets 40% of facts from Reddit problem
09:15 – Which infographic impacts you most?

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Links & Resources 🔗

- Issue #062 of The Digital Contrarian – "Is the AI Bubble Bursting??" → https://ryanlevesque.net/is-the-ai-bubble-bursting/
- Subscribe to The Digital Contrarian newsletter → https://thedigitalcontrarian.com

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Connect & CTA 🎯
👉 Enjoyed this? Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

🎁 Join 100 000+ digital entrepreneurs who get Ryan's "Strategic Insights for Digital Entrepreneurs Who Think Differently" every weekend:*<https://ryanlevesque.net/join-the-digital-contrarian/>

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Credits
Host: Ryan Levesque
© 2025 RL & Associates LLC. All rights reserved.

TDC 062: Is the AI Bubble Bursting? My Keynote Insights + MIT's Shocking 95% Failure Rate

While 65% of all VC flows into AI, the real opportunity lies in the barbell approach.

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Episode Summary  

In this episode of The Digital Contrarian, host Ryan Levesque dives into AI bubble dynamics and enterprise failure rates. 

You'll learn why 95% of AI projects fail, how billionaire investors view current market concentration, and discover the barbell strategy for hedging against bubble conditions while maintaining human competitive advantage. 

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Question of the Day 🗣️  

How are you balancing AI automation with maintaining the human elements that make your business unique?

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Key Take-aways  

- 95% of enterprise AI projects are failing according to new MIT research 
- 65% of all venture capital now flows into AI—the highest sector concentration in history 
- Geographic distance kills AI effectiveness in most business applications 
- The barbell approach protects your human core while deploying strategic AI assists 
- Lead with humanity first, then layer in AI where ROI is obvious 

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Timestamped Outline ⏱️  

00:00 – Is the AI bubble bursting? 
00:48 – Newport Global Summit keynote insights 
02:15 – The shocking MIT study: 95% AI failure rate 
03:40 – Sam Altman's market manipulation timing 
05:35 – Venture capital hyper-concentration warning 
06:35 – Data center overinvestment analysis 
07:25 – Why geographic distance kills AI effectiveness 
08:30 – The barbell approach: Human core + AI assists 
09:15 – 4-step practical implementation framework 
11:30 – 30-day sprint you can start Monday 
13:15 – The big takeaway: Lead with humanity 

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Links & Resources 🔗  

- The Digital Contrarian newsletter → https://thedigitalcontrarian.com 

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Connect & CTA 🎯 
👉 Enjoyed this? Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts.  

🎁 Join 100 000+ digital entrepreneurs who get Ryan's "Strategic Insights for Digital Entrepreneurs Who Think Differently" every weekend:<https://ryanlevesque.net/join-the-digital-contrarian/>

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Credits  
Host: Ryan Levesque
© 2025 RL & Associates LLC. All rights reserved.

TDC 061: The Personal Branding Paradox in the Age of AI

The more AI you use to scale your personal brand, the less personal it becomes.

Episode Summary

In this episode of The Digital Contrarian, Ryan Levesque explores the personal branding AI paradox and why scaling with AI often flattens your voice.

You'll discover the "Personal Brand Power Law," learn the three-part "Fewer, Deeper, Less" framework for standing out, and understand why small rooms beat trying to be everywhere.

Question of the Day 🗣️

Which of the three moves (Fewer, Deeper, Less) do you find most challenging to implement in your personal brand strategy? Share in the comments below!

Key Take-aways

• The Personal Brand Power Law: only a tiny handful capture most attention while everyone fights over scraps
• The AI Paradox: more AI in your brand makes it less personal and harder to stand out
• "Fewer, Deeper, Less" beats trying to go big and be everywhere
• One weekly "source of truth" content piece trumps dozens of AI-assisted posts
• Small strategic rooms create more opportunities than mass-market approaches

Timestamped Outline ⏱️

00:00 – Intro: Birthday reflections and farm life
00:42 – Recent events and AI developments
02:30 – The Personal Brand Power Law explained
03:29 – The Great AI Paradox revealed
04:23 – The "Fewer, Deeper, Less" framework
05:12 – Move #1: Source of Truth content strategy
06:05 – Move #2: Show your struggle to build trust
06:58 – Move #3: Small rooms and strategic absence
09:11 – Personal Branding AI Summit invitation

Links & Resources 🔗

• Get on the Return to Real Farm Event waitlist → https://ryanlevesque.net/vermont-farm-mastermind-waitlist/
• Register for Mike Kim's Personal Branding AI Summit → https://youarethebrand.ai/join?am_id=robby397
• Issue 025 – "Tipping Points" → https://ryanlevesque.net/half-baked-ideas-contrarian-advantage-ai-era/
• Issue 027 – "Your Strategic Content Ecosystem" → https://ryanlevesque.net/strategic-content-ecosystem/
• Issue 035 – "Why the Struggle is the Solution" → https://ryanlevesque.net/why-the-struggle-is-the-solution/
• Issue 055 – "My Contrarian YouTube Strategy" → https://ryanlevesque.net/my-contrarian-youtube-strategy/
• Issue 056 – "Storytelling: The Most Scalable Post-AI Business Skill?" → https://ryanlevesque.net/storytelling-the-most-scalable-post-ai-business-skill/
• Issue 060 – "Inside a Room With 40+ Million-Copy Bestselling Authors" → https://ryanlevesque.net/inside-a-room-with-40-million-copy-bestselling-authors/

Connect & CTA 🎯
👉 Enjoyed this? Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

🎁 Join 100 000+ digital entrepreneurs who get Ryan's "Strategic Insights for Digital Entrepreneurs Who Think Differently" every weekend: https://ryanlevesque.net/join-the-digital-contrarian/

Credits
Host: Ryan Levesque
© 2025 RL & Associates LLC. All rights reserved.

TDC 060: Inside a Room With 40+ Million-Copy Bestselling Authors

Seven powerful lessons from the literary equivalent of the NBA All-Star team.

Episode Summary

In this episode of The Digital Contrarian, host Ryan Levesque shares profound insights from his private gathering with 40+ million-copy bestselling authors including James Clear, Jamie Kern-Lima, and Hal Elrod.

You'll discover why good enough isn't good enough for books, learn the secret to short-form content success, and understand why there's no single "right way" to achieve massive success.

Question of the Day 🗣️

Which of the seven quotes hit you the hardest? Leave a comment to let me know!

Key Take-aways

• There are many things where good enough is good enough, but writing a book isn't one of them
• The secret to short-form video is using series, not just stories
• You're robbing the world of yourself if you pretend to be someone else
• Every person has 5-7 defining pivot points—pick one to start your story
• Above all else, optimize for transformation in your work

Timestamped Outline ⏱️

00:00 – My invitation to the literary "Dream Team"
 01:39 – The standing ovation keynote (and plaid shirt controversy)
 02:27 – James Clear on writing excellence
 02:43 – Pat Flynn's secret to short-form content
 02:58 – Dr. Mike Bechtel on authentic living
 03:06 – Don Yeager's storytelling framework
 03:20 – Hal Elrod's powerful health decision
 04:00 – Alex Witkowski on what makes books readable
 04:16 – Joseph Wynn on optimizing for transformation
 04:38 – The surprising truth about million-copy success
 05:30 – What this means for your path forward

Links & Resources 🔗

• Get on the waitlist for Return to Real book → https://ryanlevesque.net/return-to-real-book/
• Books mentioned: Atomic Habits, Worthy, Building a Story Brand, Launch, Profit First, Two Weeks Notice, Limitless, Don't Believe Everything You Think, The Miracle Morning

Connect & CTA 🎯
👉 Enjoyed this? Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

🎁 Join 100 000+ digital entrepreneurs who get Ryan's "Strategic Insights for Digital Entrepreneurs Who Think Differently" every weekend: https://ryanlevesque.net/join-the-digital-contrarian/

Credits
Host: Ryan Levesque
© 2025 RL & Associates LLC. All rights reserved.

TDC 059: Live Wild or Die Boring: The Urgent Case for Reconnecting with the Natural World (Part 1)

Why nature isn't just good for your soul—it's essential for survival, creativity, and breakthrough innovation.

Episode Summary

In this episode of The Digital Contrarian, host Ryan Levesque shares insights from recording his upcoming book Return to Real and reveals shocking research about our digital lifestyle.

You'll discover how concrete environments increase early death by 12%, learn why nature walks boost creativity by 60%, and understand why tech founders won't use their own products.

Question of the Day 🗣️

When was the last time you spent a full day in nature without digital devices? What did you notice? Share in the comments!

Key Take-aways

• People in concrete environments are 12% more likely to die early than those surrounded by nature
• Children with limited nature access are 55% more likely to develop depression later in life
• Four-day wilderness trips boost creativity and problem-solving by 50%
• Nature walks increase innovative thinking by 60% compared to indoor walking
• World-changing inventions like Velcro and bullet trains were inspired by nature

Timestamped Outline ⏱️

00:00 – Live wild or die boring
00:32 – My experience recording Return to Real
02:10 – How the modern digital way of life has left us dumbed down
04:02 – Rewild your life, rewire your brain
04:49 – The shocking health impacts of nature deprivation
06:22 – Why your next breakthrough will come from nature, not screens
08:18 – The science of nature's effect on creativity
10:09 – Why tech founders don't use their own products
11:43 – The real solution to digital addiction

Links & Resources 🔗

• Get on the waitlist for Return to Real book → https://ryanlevesque.net/return-to-real-book/
• Issue 053 of The Digital Contrarian – "Between Death and Danger is the Path"
• PLOS One wilderness creativity study
• Stanford walking and innovation research

Connect & CTA 🎯
👉 Enjoyed this? Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

🎁 Join 100 000+ digital entrepreneurs who get Ryan's "Strategic Insights for Digital Entrepreneurs Who Think Differently" every weekend: https://ryanlevesque.net/join-the-digital-contrarian/

Credits
Host: Ryan Levesque
© 2025 RL & Associates LLC. All rights reserved.