The Courageous Podcast with Ryan Berman

After a 30 hour flight to Kathmandu, Len Forkas, joins The Courageous Podcast before his daunting task of climbing Mount Everest to help raise awareness and funds for kids battling cancer. Len is the Founder of Milestone Towers, a Seven‑Summits contender, and Chairman of the foundation, Hopecam. In his conversation with Ryan, Len traces the moment his eight‑year‑old son asked, “Am I going to die?” and how that question sparked a mission now connecting 5,500+ children with cancer to their classmates in every U.S. state. He breaks down the mindset that powers 3,000‑mile bike races, South‑Pole ski treks, and this month’s Everest attempt. He reminds us that while he can choose to turn back on his journey on Everest, the kids with cancer don’t have that option. Along the way he reveals why the true summit isn’t a ridgeline at 29,000 feet but a kitchen table stacked with blueberry pancakes for a daughter who once called him out for training too much.

Learn more about partnering with Hopecam here: https://www.hopecam.org/

Aaron Starkman’s award shelves are overflowing, but it’s the process behind the honors that truly fascinates him. Currently leading Rethink as Global Chief Creative Officer, Aaron guided the fiercely independent agency to become the most awarded in the world, clinching Independent Network & Agency of the Year at Cannes, The One Show, the Andys, and more in 2024. His creative direction has spurred viral hits like Coors Light’s “Light’s Out” and Heinz’s “Draw Ketchup,” with mainstream outlets such as CNN, NBC, and Jimmy Kimmel all spotlighting his team’s clever, culture-shaping campaigns. In his conversation with Ryan, Aaron talks about how doubling down on core principles, especially during COVID, fueled Rethink’s rise to the top. He also shares his personal journey with anxiety, revealing how therapy and medication freed him from self-doubt so he could focus on bold, simple work. From pivoting big concepts in record time to safeguarding a steadfast no-sell ethos, Aaron shows how a transparent process and a dash of humor can fuel fearless creativity.

As former Global Head of Marketing at TikTok, Nick Tran transformed the company from an upstart app into a global cultural phenomenon, earning it Ad Age’s Marketer of the Year in 2021. A marketing executive with a knack for steering high visibility brands, he also drove revivals at Hulu, Samsung, and Taco Bell, always aiming to keep companies culturally on point.  Now, he’s stepping into a new chapter as president and CMO of a spirits venture backed by Diageo’s Ciroc and LeBron James’s tequila brand, Lobos 1707—blending celebrity, storytelling, and lifestyle marketing into one bold move. Beyond the corporate world, Nick invests in consumer disruptors like Liquid Death, Away, and Olipop, and even found time to executive-produce the acclaimed Jeen-Yuhs trilogy. In his conversation with Ryan, Nick explains why CMOs must “unlearn marketing” and shares how he balances creative risk-taking with the need for performance. He also reveals how feeding children carrots became his favorite metaphor for a truly balanced brand strategy and opens up about his pivot to fatherhood in London.

Why settle for corporate ‘mission statements’ when you can spark a movement? Thomas Kolster has made it his life’s work to help Fortune 500 companies, start-ups, and governments discover exactly who they can help their audiences become. As the founder of the Goodvertising Agency, a recognized global thinker at the intersection of marketing, business, and sustainability, and author of two provocative books—Goodvertising and The Hero Trap—he challenges companies to stop obsessing over their “why” and focus instead on empowering people to own their own transformations. A frequent speaker at TEDx and SXSW, a judge at D&AD and Cannes Lions, and a vocal critic on climate issues, Thomas believes “purpose” isn’t about being a savior but a catalyst. Whether he’s advising Meta, Adidas, or IKEA, his mission remains the same: deliver authentic impact by making your audience, not your brand, the hero.

What happens when a star chemical engineering student from India becomes one of the world’s most lauded marketers? In this episode of The Courageous Podcast, Raja Rajamannar reveals how a serendipitous moment shifted him from scientific problem-solver to “accidental marketer,” igniting a diverse career that has spanned financial services, consumer-packaged goods, and healthcare at powerhouses including Unilever, Citigroup, Anthem, and Mastercard. Raja currently serves as Mastercard's Chief Marketing & Communications Officer and Founding President of its healthcare business. His accolades include Global Marketer of the Year by the World Federation of Advertisers, top 5 “World’s Most Influential CMOs” by Forbes, top 10 “World’s Most Innovative CMOs” by Business Insider, and induction into The Advertising Hall of Fame. Raja is also a Wall Street Journal-bestselling author, known for his book “Quantum Marketing: Mastering the New Marketing Mindset for Tomorrow’s Consumers”.

Agnelo Fernandes didn’t set out to become a CEO in the hospitality industry, but his background in finance and marketing gave him the perfect foundation to lead courageously with strategy, and heart. Now, as CEO of COTE Hospitality, Agnelo is focused on inspiring his team, elevating guest experiences, and fostering a people-first culture. In this conversation with Ryan, Agnelo shares the power of authentic leadership, reminding us that “the speed (and sprit) of the leader is the speed (spirit) of the team.” He also recounts a memorable moment when an unexpected whale sighting turned a near disaster into a lasting partnership—proving that adaptability and perspective can make all the difference. Agnelo’s all-in on blending strategic vision with service, training, and building a people-first culture, proving that a little empathy and adaptability might just be the secret to the future of hospitality.

When a high-flying tech sales career left him drained and unfulfilled, Tim Perreira realized it was time for a drastic change. Throughout his rise to President’s Club accolades, top-tier leadership roles, and hefty stock options, he buried stress and anxiety until it pushed him to an alarming low point. Now, Tim is certain that genuine toughness begins with raw vulnerability—and a willingness to admit when you need help. In his conversation with Ryan, he shares the bold plan fueling his next chapter: a 2,800-mile walk across America to raise $50K for men’s mental health and suicide prevention. He’s out to dismantle the “lone wolf” myth, convinced that real resilience comes from community, honesty, and human connection.

Co-founding one of the world’s most successful ad agencies, Anomaly, would be a dream moment for most—but for Jason Deland, it has simply been part of his journey. In this conversation with Ryan, Jason shares how his father’s no-nonsense mantra, “What’s really going on here?”, has fueled his relentless approach to business and beyond. He breaks down the grit and guts behind building one of today’s most iconic agencies—home to groundbreaking campaigns for Budweiser, Beats by Dre, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Coca-Cola. Despite Anomaly’s continued success, Jason remains in pursuit of personal growth, returning to the classroom for a master’s in sports psychology. Plus, he reveals the job interview rejection that solidified his belief in challenging the status quo and staying true to his convictions.

Fear. It can flat out paralyze us. It can halt us in our tracks and make us feel small unless we stand up and face it head on. That is exactly what Michelle Poler decided to do as the creator of the “100 Days Without Fear” challenge. Michelle has tackled everything from cliff-diving to diving with sharks to conquering deeper fears of rejection and judgment. In this conversation with host Ryan Berman, Michelle invites us to do the latter through her signature question, “What’s the best that can happen?” Today, Michelle has sparked an aspirational movement that has reached over 70 million people. As you’ll discover from this conversation, Michelle is a cocktail comprised of positivity, generosity, authenticity and abundance.

Picture an era when advertising didn’t just sell products—it shaped culture. That’s the legacy Ron Berger helped build, from co-founding the 700-person agency MVBMS with Tom Messner, Barry Vetere, Louise McNamee, and Bob Schmetter to penning era-defining taglines like “Time to Make the Donuts” and “Subway Eat Fresh.” In this episode, Ryan reconnects with his former boss to explore how Ron helped launch Adweek and nurtured a culture of candid collaboration over empty hierarchies. Drawing a line between sports competition and creative excellence, he explains why teamwork, accountability, and “impact winning” have always been at the core of his leadership style. Ron also shares on building a culture at MVBMS that prized strategic clarity over trendy cool.