The One Away Show

When Ryan Lewis moved across the country for graduate school, he arrived with curiosity – but no roadmap. Then one quiet introduction changed everything.

That meeting pulled him into the world of national security, defense acquisition, and high-stakes problem-solving – an arena where details save lives and focus under pressure isn't optional. From studying MRAP deployments during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars to becoming the CEO of Rancher Government Solutions, Ryan's career is rooted in a simple truth: discipline compounds.

In this conversation, Ryan reflects on how early mentors shaped his thinking, why owning the smallest tasks built the foundation for his leadership style, and how he stays grounded while running a fast-moving tech company serving critical government missions.

If you're interested in leadership, deep work, or the real inner workings of defense tech, this episode offers clarity, context, and a look inside the kind of career shaped by rigor – not noise.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How one introduction redirected Ryan's entire career trajectory

• Why details and disciplined focus still anchor every major decision he makes

• How he leads teams through complexity while staying grounded in mission

🎧 Listen now.

When COVID shut the world down, Carlo Cisco didn't freeze – he rebuilt. In this episode, the founder of Select breaks down how a global crisis became the spark that reshaped his company's product, growth model, and long-term vision. From boosting renewal rates during a standstill to launching an AI travel planner that generates custom itineraries in under 30 seconds, Carlo shows what reinvention really looks like under pressure.

He also opens up about the founder journey behind the scenes – what he learned from earlier ventures, how Select hit seven figures early on, and why the next frontier blends lifestyle membership, financial products, and a fast-growing investment syndicate. By the time we hit his take on Gen Z behavior, loyalty, and the future of concierge experiences, you'll see how one shutdown set the foundation for something much bigger.

What you'll learn: • How Select increased renewal rates during the pandemic and unlocked a faster growth engine. • Why private membership models outperform price-parity limitations. • How AI, concierge services, and financial tools can merge into the next generation of membership experiences.

🎧 If this conversation resonates, give it a listen.

Innovation isn't just about ideas – it's about the systems that shape them.

In this episode, Caroline Kendal shares why venture studios may be the future of company building. After two previous startups and years working alongside investors, she realized the current VC model rewards luck more than discipline. Her latest chapter? Investing in the "startup factories" that build companies with scientific rigor, collaborative teams, and documented playbooks – not emotion or ego.

Caroline opens up about how this model reduces risk, accelerates learning, and creates startups the market actually wants.

In this conversation, you'll learn: • Why traditional VC is broken – and what might replace it • How venture studios build startups faster, cheaper, and with clearer discipline • Why falling in love with the problem, not the solution, leads to better innovation

🎧 If this conversation resonates, give it a listen.

When his dream of playing in the NBA ended, Darrell Teat thought the buzzer had signaled the end of his story. Instead, it opened the door to a bigger calling.

In this episode, Darrell shares how mentorship, exposure, and a pivotal leadership program helped him reimagine his path – from aspiring athlete to purpose-driven CEO. His journey highlights the power of people, culture, and the systems leaders build to help others thrive.

In this conversation, you'll learn: • How mentorship can reshape what you believe is possible • Why strong culture begins with how leaders treat people • The systems that create consistent, extraordinary results

🎧 If this conversation resonates, give it a listen.

For Desiree Bombenon, courage started with a whisper from a third-grade teacher – a moment that sparked a lifetime of bold decisions.

In this episode, she shares how early hardship shaped her resilience, how following her instincts helped her rebuild a purpose-driven company, and why she believes purpose + profit = impact. From empowering women to redefining leadership, Desirée shows what it looks like to turn adversity into meaningful change.

In this conversation, you'll learn:

• How to lead with instinct when the data isn't clear

• Why "purpose + profit" creates sustainable impact

• What it takes to build cultures rooted in trust, not hierarchy

🎧 If this conversation resonates, give it a listen.

When everything you've built feels like it's about to collapse, what do you do?

For Dan Lappin, founder of Lappin180, that moment came 16 months into building his business – with no clients, no revenue, and only two months of savings left. Faced with fear and uncertainty, he made a choice that changed everything: no Plan B.

In this episode, Dan shares how letting go of scarcity and choosing conviction over fear reshaped his business, his mindset, and his life. He explores how abundance isn't something you chase – it's something you allow, and how true success starts when you stop clinging to outcomes and start leading with intent.

From sales to leadership to parenting, Dan's lessons go far beyond business. This is a story about clarity, resilience, and the quiet strength of choosing yourself when it matters most.

🎙️ If it resonates, give it a listen.

What if a single book could change not just your business – but your life?

For entrepreneur Dan Honeywell, Play Bigger did exactly that. It shifted his mindset from building companies to designing categories – igniting a journey that led to a £120M healthcare venture and, eventually, to a much deeper transformation.

In this episode of The One Away Show, Dan shares how a founder's biggest breakthroughs often happen off the balance sheet. From scaling a hardware startup through the chaos of COVID to redefining success through therapy and vulnerability, he opens up about what it really takes to lead with courage and build with conviction.

Dan's story bridges business and humanity – reminding us that leadership isn't about control, it's about curiosity, compassion, and the willingness to grow.

🎧 if it resonates, this episode is for you.

What drives someone to leave a dream job at the heart of Silicon Valley to start again from a basement?

For Michael Coates, former CISO of Twitter and Mozilla, that leap wasn't about risk – it was about conviction. In this episode, Michael shares how stepping away from corporate success led him to build from the ground up: first a cybersecurity company born out of late-night sessions in his co-founder's basement, and later Seven Hill Ventures, a fund empowering the next generation of cybersecurity founders.

From Chicago to San Francisco, from code to capital, Michael reflects on how proximity to potential, perseverance, and purpose have shaped his journey. He also unpacks what the future of security looks like in an AI-driven world – and why the most effective protection is often invisible.

🎙️ This episode is a story about courage, conviction, and redefining what it means to build something that lasts.

What does it take to lead across borders – and truly connect beyond results?

After driving 80% growth as Avon Ecuador's CEO, Rossana Sadir received the toughest feedback of her life. That moment reshaped how she led forever – from a results-driven executive into a leader who empowers through trust, empathy, and shared purpose.

In this episode of The One Away Show, Rossana shares her transformation from strategist to CEO to board member, revealing how real influence comes not from exercising power, but from emanating it. She unpacks what it means to lead across cultures, turn "us vs. them" into "we," and build boards that deliberate instead of dominate.

Whether you're leading a team, a company, or a global mission, this conversation is a masterclass in evolving from control to collaboration – and learning that trust is the true language of leadership.

🎧 If this conversation resonates, give it a listen.

For Nancy Armstrong, a diagnosis isn't the end of the story – it's the beginning of a new perspective. As a mother, advocate, and storyteller, Nancy has spent years reframing how we view ADHD: not as a disorder to be "fixed," but as a brain type that requires understanding, support, and different ways of thinking.

In this episode, Nancy shares her journey of raising a child with ADHD and how it reshaped her approach to parenting, leadership, and advocacy. From learning to create practical systems at home (like sticky notes on the door) to championing coaching for parents, she highlights the small but powerful shifts that can transform daily chaos into opportunities for growth.

Nancy also explores why tutoring, executive functioning support, and individualized care can unlock a child's potential – and why the real change starts with parents learning to see differently. Her story is a reminder that when we change the frame, we change the future.

If this conversation resonates, this episode is for you.