The Courageous Podcast with Ryan Berman

Molly Tschang helps senior management and their teams Win As One. She has helped executives navigate over 80 mergers and acquisitions and the human after-effects of intense change. In her conversation with Ryan, Molly shares her notion that to be a good leader is to be a good coach. She points out that good leaders really want to know the truth, and why having a ‘shared reality’ between all levels of an organization is paramount in performing at the highest possible level. Finally, Molly gives advice to not let the fear of saying something ‘perfectly’ hold us back from communicating openly, and why we need to make peace with the things we really can’t change.

“Defining myself / Is like confining myself / So I undefined myself / To find myself”.  IN-Q is an Emmy nominated poet, multi-platinum songwriter, world renowned keynote speaker, and the best-selling author of Inquire Within.  The Never Ending Now, his recent spoken word album and poetry journal, explore the importance of creativity for emotional and mental well-being.  In his conversation with Ryan, the two dive into the dichotomy of being a macro-optimist and micro-pessimist while finding anchors to the world to keep you grounded.  They discuss the courage it takes to put out a creation into the world that is truly raw and authentic to oneself, and the benefits of pursuing personal growth and maintaining a student mindset as you age, especially when you begin to feel calcified in your ways.

Good leaders truly listen.  Stephen Shedletzky, or “Shed” to his friends, helps leaders make it safe and worth it for people to speak up. A sought-after speaker, coach, and advisor, Shed has led hundreds of keynote presentations, workshops, and leadership development programs around the world.  In his conversation with Ryan, Shed speaks on some of his early inspirations that set a foundation for his current career inspiring bravery in others, including the courageous tale of his Holocaust surviving Grandfather.  Shed explains how to take steps towards embracing a speak-up culture, reminding leaders to both encourage people to speak up, and reward them when they do.  The two also discuss how it becomes harder to get the truth from employees the higher up the leadership rank you get, and discuss why leadership cannot be claimed, it must be earned.

Brad Montague is creator of the hit web series Kid President and author of Becoming Better Grownups, the New York Times best sellers Kid President’s Guide to Being Awesome and The Circles All Around Us.  All of Brad’s work has been guided by one key phrase: ‘be who you needed when you were younger’.  In his conversation with Ryan, Brad reflects on his role as a “helper” and how his mission to make goodness attractive has landed him in the company of Beyoncé, Steven Martin, and President Obama.  Brad also gives listeners priceless advice on moving from dreaming to doing, and reminds us that we become more courageous the more we live in our hearts.

Eric Ryan is a serial entrepreneur, investor, advisor, and father. He is the co-founder of multiple household brands including method, OLLY, Welly, Cast, and WILL Perform. Eric has been named an eco-leader by Vanity Fair, was PETA's Person of the Year, and can be found on Fortune’s 40 under 40 list. In their conversation, Eric gives listeners an inside look on what it takes to be a serial entrepreneur. He provides candid advice on how to avoid the “sophomore slump” coming off a successful venture. He also shares his motivation behind seeking out negative feedback as a first step to any new project. Or, as Eric likes to say to himself when entering a board room: Improve yourself, don’t prove yourself. Ryan and Eric cover a lot of ground in this conversational edition including how Eric recognizes that entering a flow state when discussing an idea is a good sign that he may have a winner. 

Count your Mondays.  Jodi Wellman is a Speaker, Author, and Founder of Four Thousand Mondays where she isn’t afraid to stare death in the face in the pursuit of living her most fulfilling life.  As the author of "You Only Die Once: How to Make It to the End with No Regrets", Jodi tackles the lively topic of mortality to help people make the most of their lives while they're still lucky to be above ground.  In her conversation with Ryan, Jodi speaks about how a stapler changed the course of her life, and how she took the “now steps” to make her dreams become reality.  The two touch on the concept of “pregrets” and why birthdays can be a good barometer in measuring how happy we are.  Throughout the episode, Jodi gives valuable advice on ways to make immediate changes in an effort to start living “like you mean it” and preventing delayed frustration for your future self..

You can see it, you can be it.  Artis Stevens is President & CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) – the nation’s foremost one-to-one youth mentoring organization. As the first Black CEO in BBBSA’s 100+ year history, Artis is spearheading a powerful mission to leverage mentorship as a transformative solution to society’s greatest challenges – from equity and access to justice and opportunity.  In his discussion with Ryan, Artis speaks on the power of relationships to make positive change in young people's lives, and explains why mentoring as your authentic self is the best approach, reminding listeners that a mentor does not have to be perfect, but they must be present.  He explains the benefits and challenges of leading a 120 year old brand, where some people have preconceived notions about what the organization is and isn’t.  Recently named one of the Top 10 non-profits in the U.S., Artis is on a mission not to just inform people about BBBSA, but make it relevant to individuals and inspire them to get involved in helping some of the millions of children in the U.S. that lack a positive adult mentor.

Get ready for an electrifying episode of The Courageous Podcast with your host, Ryan Berman! Today, we're joined by the brilliant Cheryl Goodman, a renowned tech expert and leading authority in artificial intelligence. In a world where many are fearful of AI's rapid advancements, Cheryl's insights and innovations offer a beacon of understanding and optimism. Today, she unveils her latest masterpiece, "How to Win Friends and Influence Robots." Don’t miss this fascinating conversation as we delve into the future of AI and explore the groundbreaking ideas in her new book, out today! PS. AI wrote this podcast teaser.

The Niche is You.  Matt Gottesman is a multidisciplinary creative, 2x founder, podcaster and writer with a background in helping some of the world’s most iconic brands (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy) realize their potential… digitally.  His mission is to uncomplicate life and business and help millions do more of what they love at scale.  In his conversation with Ryan, they explore the concept of seeking approval from others, with Matt emphasizing that acceptance is inherent from birth. He also shares practical advice and strategies from his own life, detailing systems he uses to live meaningfully and efficiently.  If you're interested in learning how to reverse engineer work, rest, play and money for less chasing and more financial freedom and flow, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

At 16, Mandy Salas was a nationally ranked soccer player, eagerly preparing to submit college applications and step into the next exciting phase of her life. All signs were a go to continue her soccer career — most likely at Stanford — until an event occurring during a summer trip to Argentina abruptly altered this trajectory. In her candid conversation with Ryan, Mandy reflects on her time in Argentina, the accident that left her a quadriplegic, and the profound adjustments she had to accept of her new reality. Mandy candidly shares the challenges she faced returning to America, grappling with a loss of identity and struggling to find her place among her peers without the ability to compete athletically. Despite these obstacles, Mandy’s story is one of perseverance! Now, married with two kids of her own, we discover that Mandy is on a mission to convey that the human spirit remains strong in all of us.