The Courageous Podcast with Ryan Berman

“Dance! Nothing left for me to do but dance. Off these bad times I'm going through, just dance!”- Jamiroquai

Mom. Marketer. Ball Room Dancer. Care-giving Nurse? In a blink, much had to change in the life of the multi-talented, marketing extraordinaire Erin Levzow since her last appearance on the Courageous Podcast.  At work, she left tacos for a sweeter treat, now serving as the CMO at MUSEUM OF ICE CREAM where she helps all transcend into play to create unforgettable memories. As we must never forget, there’s an entire life happening behind the laptop at home. In Erin’s case, she and her family were thrown into a traumatic incident involving her husband’s fall over a 12 foot high banister that put him in a life-threatening coma. On this episode, Erin shares her whirlwind of hardships, triumphs, and how she kept herself sane by dancing the best she could through it all.

Discovering what lights you up can be a dark journey.  Mary Olson-Menzel helps leaders by shining a flashlight on their path to help them illuminate where they want to go. As an Expert Coach, Facilitator, Speaker, and Author, Mary excels in fostering businesses grounded in profound connections, excellence, and sustained inspiration. In her conversation with Ryan, Mary delves into the art of cutting through the noise to gain crystal-clear insights into leadership aspirations. The two explore the concept of 'coachability,' emphasizing the pivotal role of an open mind in leadership growth. To cap it off, Mary shares her musings on the ideal actor to portray her in the cinematic portrayal of her life.

Starting his career as an Aerospace Engineer where he launched 84 astronauts into space, Neal Bloom now spends his time launching tech companies.  As a Managing Partner at Interlock Capital, Neal helps find, evaluate, fund, and support the best technology companies through their venture fund and angel investor syndicate.  In his conversation with Ryan, Neal drops lots of gems for aspiring and seasoned entrepreneurs alike.  He touches on the notion that not all money is created equal, reminding listeners to take the time to find an investor that will go “beyond the check” for your business.  Neal also delves into the intricacies of his decision-making process, shedding light on how he meticulously gathers and analyzes diverse data points to arrive at the most informed decisions.

Change is an inevitable force, and over the span of 16 years, Ruth Hughes has witnessed a significant transformation both in the world and her career at Kellanova (formerly Kellogg's). Currently serving as the General Manager in Europe of High Growth Markets, Ruth oversees operations across 28 countries, steering the ship for iconic brands such as Pringles, Rice Krispies, and Pop Tarts, among many others. Connecting with Ryan from her home in Ireland, Ruth sheds light on the intricacies of managing a diverse array of teams, many of whom communicate in languages other than English as their primary tongue. Ruth imparts valuable workplace wisdom, emphasizing the importance of listening to understand rather than merely responding, among other priceless insights. To cap it off, Ruth shares what raised her eyebrows in a major way from her recent trip to California.

What’s it like to board a rocket ship? Just ask Morgan Buehler Zanotti.  Morgan was in the flight deck as Co-Founder & President of Primal Kitchen through its explosive growth from 0-50 million in just 3 years. In her conversation with host Ryan Berman, Morgan takes us on the journey from her plans to start a surf-yoga retreat in South America, to leading Primal Kitchen’s acquisition by Kraft-Heinz in 2018. Almost five years to the day of the purchase, Morgan recounts the plan she and her co-founder had going into the business, and how they successfully followed through on their vision.  Morgan also opens up about her imposter syndrome, her inability to NOT say exactly what’s on her mind (at all times) and gives listeners actionable advice on connecting with the right individuals that can help take their business to the next level.

0-7 at home the year before. The 2nd and 3rd pick of last year's NFL draft. A first time Head Coach. The Houston Texans seemed to be moving in the wrong direction. At best? A slow cooked rebuild that could take 1000 days. But the NFL and its fans learned fast that this was anything but the truth. On this episode of The Courageous Podcast, we get a front row seat to witness a revamped culture that have helped land the 5-4 Texans in the smack of a playoff hunt. We're joined by Chief Marketing & Ticket Sales Officer Doug Vosik who shares what has been going on behind the scenes in H-Town including a few landmark choices (See: drafting C.J. Stroud) that have helped the organization win on the field and in the community.  

Over the past 4 years, Andrew Vassiliadis has been living a love story. Serving as Chairman of the San Diego Loyal SC, a team that was founded with soccer legend Landon Donovan, Andrew remained loyal to his mission of bringing professional soccer back to San Diego. In a candid conversation with Ryan, Andrew shares “all the feels” including his courageous decision to sunset his club with the arrival of a new San Diego MLS franchise set to debut in 2025. As the team played its final match on October 22, 2023, Ryan and Andrew took a celebratory stroll down Loyal Lane allowing Andrew to cap tip many of the stakeholders who helped “grow loyalty” for the greater good of San Diego’s community. If you wanted to come behind the scenes of building a professional soccer club or merely were curious of what Andrew Vassiliadis might do next (from San Diego), join us.

At the tender age of 11, Christopher Knight was a ubiquitous presence on small screens across America, portraying the iconic character Peter Brady. Fast forward to today, and Christopher has embarked on a new cinematic journey as the Co-founder of Former Prodigy Media, a production company he established alongside the two-time Emmy Award-nominated producer, Phil Viardo. In his conversation with host Ryan Berman, Christopher offers listeners an exclusive glimpse into his latest endeavor, "Truelove: The Film," a critically acclaimed feature documentary centered around a rare genetic disorder known as Williams syndrome. Christopher also touches on how his child-acting days shaped his philosophy towards life, learning lessons from both his on and off-screen families.  Finally, the two delve into the significance of seeking and feeling validation, and underscore the pivotal role of humor as one of life's most invaluable qualities.

Be the change.  Meryl Rosenthal is the CEO and Co-founder of FlexPaths, a company that has chaperoned meaningful change within organizations such as Guardian, Ameritas, The Greater Boston Food Bank, and many more.  For over two decades, Meryl and her team have brought future-of-work innovation, inspiration, and agility to today’s workplaces, advocating for flexible work before it was “cool”.  In her conversation with Ryan, Meryl speaks on the many courageous moves leaders had to make during the pandemic, and gives a warning to companies who are quick to go back to their old non-flexible working ways.  The two dive into the importance of leadership development for managers who often bear the brunt of stress from both employees and higher ranking executives.  Finally, Meryl discusses a real-life situation where she had the courage to tell a client the truth when it wasn't easy.

Why interrupt the entertainment when you can create it?  Jae Goodman is Founder and CEO of Superconnector Studios, a Management Consultancy, Brand Entertainment Producer, and Talent-Led-Consumer-Product Accelerator.  His thesis that brands can create entertainment has earned him thirty-six Cannes Lions, seventeen Webby awards, four Emmys from twelve Emmy nominations, and four Gold Effies including the coveted David vs. Goliath.  In his conversation with host Ryan Berman, Jae gives an overview of his incredible career journey working for legends like Warren Miller and Bill Graham, and sharing many lessons he’s learned along the way.  The two also debate the importance of awards in the advertising and creative fields, and unpack the three T’s that Jae feels describe him best - Talkative, Tenacious, and Tireless.