Ryan DeFaber shares a personal recap of two rare winter storms in Charlotte, detailing school closures, neighborhood fun, sledding attempts, driveway fire pits, bourbon hunting, and improvised workouts.

The episode highlights Southern surprises during snow, safety on icy roads, and choosing to enjoy the moment with family and friends despite being underprepared.

Host Ryan DeFaber shares his two favorite places to travel with his wife: Kiawah Island, a pristine, private coastal retreat with quiet beaches, wildlife, and championship golf; and Miami Beach, a vibrant mix of nightlife, culture, and boutique relaxation at Hotel Greystone. He describes the locations, amenities, dining, and why each works as a perfect getaway.

Ryan also reflects on the importance of being present while traveling—how stepping away from daily hurry and worry helps restore peace, faith, and love in a relationship—and encourages listeners to value experiences and savor time with their partners.

Host Ryan DeFaber shares how he recently fell into the world of whiskey and bourbon, starting with blind tastings, reading reviews, and learning tasting notes and terminology.

He discusses building a diverse, affordable collection, upcoming distillery tours, and how this hobby has deepened his appreciation for history, production, and flavor.

Ryan invites listeners to follow along, suggest topics for future episodes, and join him as he explores more about whiskey, bourbon, and the culture around them.

Host Ryan DeFaber explains the difference between being a leader and being a manager, drawing on 13 years of corporate management experience. He emphasizes inspiring vision, investing in individuals, asking for feedback, and blending strategic leadership with tactical management.

The episode covers practical tips: tailor your approach to each person, address morale quickly, create a feedback loop, offer stretch opportunities, and balance processes with empathy to build trust and long-term team success.

Host Ryan DeFaber shares a practical approach to goal achievement using positive affirmations focused on self-belief, action & focus, resilience, and attraction. He explains five ways to use affirmations effectively — read them daily, feel the emotion, post them in your space, make them personal, and visualize success — and ties each point to real-life examples.

Ryan also opens up about his own goals for 2026, including fitness, physical therapy, and work promotion, and stresses the power of accountability, routine, and community support to turn challenges into opportunities.

Host Ryan DeFaber looks back on his proudest moments of 2025, sharing personal and professional highlights that shaped his year.

Topics include a record year at work, monthly date nights with his wife, advocating for his kids in school and sports, the Bears Den Gym community workouts, a father-son vacation, the podcast's return, golf improvements, and his father's positive transition after loss.

Host Ryan DeFaber explains why work-life balance matters, why it’s not a strict 50/50 split, and how to create harmony between career demands and personal well-being.

He shares practical tips—set clear hours, prioritize tasks, take breaks, say no, delegate, pursue hobbies, and ask for flexibility—and uses Alexander the Great’s final wishes to remind listeners that health, time, and relationships matter more than wealth.

Host Ryan DeFaber kicks off the Bears Den Gym Winter Series: weekly Saturday workouts through December to February for adults and middle-school kids in the Charlotte area. Sessions mix circuit-style conditioning for adults with age-appropriate strength, agility, and speed training to help kids prepare for spring sports.

The series emphasizes accountability, discipline, and pushing through adversity in cold conditions, and invites local listeners to join and follow updates on social channels.

Host Ryan DeFaber sits down with his soon-to-be-13-year-old son Nolan to explore the transition into the teenage years, covering puberty, changing friendships, independence, attitude, and everyday challenges like chores and appetite changes.

The episode also addresses practical parenting topics such as social media limits, phone-free gatherings, building discipline and routines, and managing acne and voice changes as kids grow into teens.

Host Ryan DeFaber discusses the social media “shrink the game” movement and argues against it, using post-pandemic participation data, supply-and-demand economics, and personal experience on course costs and pace of play.

He suggests solutions like enforcing pace-of-play rules, promoting etiquette, and highlighting affordable options so golf can remain accessible and grow for future generations.