Remote Pep Talks with Ryan Millar

In this episode Ryan sits around the campfire and discusses sticking with projects even during the time when they start to get tricky, and the initial enthusiasm wanes. It's short and sweet with lots of useful reinforcing ideas about the value of sticktoitiveness, which is incidentally a great word.

Let's head to the library and talk about words. Ryan loves words, and he loves using them and talking about them. He's also celebrating the publication of a new book "Daft Poems & Twisted Tongues: An Assortment of Wonderful Words", hence today's topic. The discussion covers Speak and Spell, tongue twisters and the reasons for putting together a kids' book of poetry and using a nom de plume. Here's an Amazon link to check it out: https://www.amazon.com/dp/9082771438

On this episode Ryan sits with Mike Brown of New York's Pineapple Improv (https://www.pineappleimprov.com/). This discussion falls under the heading of a "Project Pitch Polish" episode, as Ryan and Mike dive into the mechanics and specifics of how Mike talks about his improv baby, and also they talk about the value of using the gift of pineapple as conversation fodder. They also get into Mike's love of collectibles, dinner party etiquette, and film buffery. Mike is an ebullient, engaging and passionate guy who also happens to be a seasoned improviser and all-around good human. Enjoy! 

Ryan's back from yoga, and it's put him into a new perspective, which is: the importance of taking it easy. So don't forget to relax, and enjoy that. 

How can we continue to develop as people and as practitioners of whatever it is that we're working on? Ryan visits the Straat Museum in Amsterdam Noord and reflects on the importance of artistic evolution to keep us stimulated and engaged. From bucking your own system to keeping your identity small, Ryan explores how continued evolution is necessary for continued fulfillment.   

In this ultra-short episode, I start warming up the feed for Season Three, after a long hiatus. A quick check-in, just to get us back to square zero. More episodes coming soon.   

This episode discusses the difference between speaking confidently and speaking loudly. It also breaks down the bookwriting process and Ryan's own history helping people learn to speak with confidence. As this episode is related to Ryan's upcoming book release, he runs through the different sections of "The Confident Presenter" and why the book is organized that way. 

Oh, and this is the final ep of season two. Enjoy!

Ryan's writing a book, and that project is BIIIIIG. And then he just stopped. For like, a month. Now, as he gets back to it, he reflects on the project, the stop, and how seasons and rhythms affect our work. This RPT takes place in a lush quiet winter forest. Enjoy! 

There's a quote from Albert Einstein in this episode. And that guy was very smart!

Kids can be soooooo frustrating! Obviously, this topic will be a familiar one for anyone who's a parent or who has been a kid. 

It's all about dealing with frustrations, but especially about dealing with the frustrations of having kids. And needing to get those kids to school. Spurred on by a listener inquiry, Ryan tackles the topic head-on, and draws on some timeless wisdom, including a quote about halving a burden, as well as one about stepping in the same river twice. There's also a pretty decent off-the-cuff gold panning metaphor that is alone worth the price of admission. Visit the playground, bathe in the sounds, and enjoy some peppy wisdom.