Yes And Land

5.0 (6)
Society & Culture
Updated Weekly

Join Ryan Gregerson, a family law attorney with a passion for Disney, as he explores popular stories and the themes they reveal about leadership, resilience, relationships, and hard choices. Each episode connects familiar stories to real-life insight drawn from business, the legal world, and everyday life.

6d ago

Inside Out and Turning Tragedy Into Purpose | Grace Laubenthal

Inside Out teaches us that emotions can't be locked away, they have to be felt to move through us. Grace Laubenthal knows this intimately. At 16, a car accident changed her life forever, and what followed was years of learning how to process grief, guilt, and the complex emotions that come with tragedy. Grace is a real estate professional in Utah and podcast host who has transformed her hardest moment into her greatest teacher. 🎯 3 Actionable Takeaways Get Curious About Suppressed Emotions, Notice any emotions you're pushing down and ask yourself what's really there. Why it works: Emotions don't disappear when we ignore them; they stay trapped in your body until you feel them fully and let them pass.Audit Your Self-Talk, Pay attention to the words that follow "I am" and shift from doubt into belief when you catch yourself spiraling. Why it works: 95% of our thoughts are subconscious, so conscious awareness of what you're telling yourself is the first step to changing your story.Do Things That Make You Happy, Find activities and people that bring you joy and make time for them, even in small doses. Why it works: Getting to know yourself and what you love is how you become the person you've always wanted to be.🔦 EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS How Grace processed hitting a cyclist at 16 and the months of uncertainty that followedThe moment she learned the cyclist had passed away and how that shifted her entire life trajectoryWhy suppressing sadness keeps it trapped inside instead of allowing it to pass throughThe difference between victim mentality ("this happened to me") and ownership ("this happened for me")How moving to Utah gave her the space to feel safe enough to become her authentic selfThe Inside Out lesson: joy and sadness work together, and you can't feel one without the otherHow Grace's family and close friends showed up differently, and what that taught her about real support👤 ABOUT GRACE LAUBENTHAL Grace is a real estate professional in Utah and podcast host who survived a tragic accident at 16 that killed a cyclist. Rather than hide from that story, she leaned into it, spent years in therapy and coaching, and rebuilt her life around the belief that everything happens for her, not to her. She now helps others navigate hard seasons by modeling vulnerability and the power of mindset shifts. 📺 ABOUT YES AND LAND Yes And Land explores the leadership lessons, relationship dynamics, and hard choices hidden in the stories we love. Hosted by Ryan Gregerson, a family law attorney at RCG Law Group, Disney enthusiast, and business coach for law firm owners at Altium Advisors, each episode connects familiar narratives to real-world wisdom you can actually use. New episodes every Thursday.
Aug 6

The Great Mouse Detective and Leading Without Ego | Marianne Johansen on Authentic Leadership

What happens when your best-laid plans get interrupted by opportunity—and you almost walk away? The Great Mouse Detective answers that question through the lens of a brilliant detective who can't succeed alone, a grounded partner who knows when to step back, and a confident child who refuses to be left behind. Marianne, principal at an arts integration magnet school in Jordan School District, knows that tension intimately. She was hired to be an assistant principal at a junior high during the first week of the COVID-19 shutdown while pregnant with her first child—a moment that forced her to choose between control and collaboration. 🎯 3 Actionable Takeaways (Pulled directly from Marianne's closing segment) Bring What You Have to the Table and Be Confident in It — Recognize your specific strengths and contribute them fully, even when you're uncertain. Why it works: The Great Mouse Detective shows that Basil's brilliance, Dr. Dawson's grounding presence, and Olivia's tenacity are all equally necessary—confidence in your unique role builds team trust.You Can't Do It By Yourself—Choose Your Team Carefully — Build a team where every member pulls equal weight and mission alignment matters more than individual style. Why it works: Rattigan's refusal to accept help and his need to tear others down is what ultimately destroys him, while Basil, Dawson, and Olivia succeed because they trust each other completely.When Things Don't Go as Planned, There's a Good Reason—Trust the Process — Accept that interruptions to your plans often lead to better outcomes than you could have orchestrated alone. Why it works: Marianne's entire career path—from PE teacher to arts coordinator to reluctant principal—shows that surrendering control to circumstance, combined with commitment to your team, creates real transformation.🔦 EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS How Marianne went from planning to teach for "a couple of years" before staying home to building a career as a principal at a Title I arts integration schoolThe moment her boss told her she was "already doing the job" of an administrator—and why she initially resistedWhy she almost quit her principal position three weeks before starting, and what changed her mindHow Rattigan's refusal to accept who he is (a rat, not a mouse) mirrors what happens when leaders operate from ego instead of authenticityWhy kids' attention spans haven't actually gotten worse—they've just shifted to what keeps them genuinely entertainedThe dream Marianne hasn't achieved yet: taking her students to Disneyland to expose them to experiences beyond their five-mile radius👤 ABOUT MARIANNE Marianne is the principal of an arts integration magnet school in West Valley, Jordan School District. She holds a master's degree in Education and Leadership from Utah State University and has spent her career integrating arts, music, and entertainment into academic learning. She's a pianist who has trained since age five, a freestyle rapper who writes custom songs for her students, and a leader who believes that team alignment and authentic self-acceptance are the foundations of real transformation. Connect with Marianne: 🌐 https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-johansen-22b25899/ 📺 ABOUT YES AND LAND Yes And Land explores the leadership lessons, relationship dynamics, and hard choices hidden in the stories we love. Hosted by Ryan Gregerson, a family law attorney at RCG Law Group, Disney enthusiast, and business coach for law firm owners at Altium Advisors, each episode connects familiar narratives to real-world wisdom you can actually use. New episodes every Thursday.
Jul 30

Lion King and Healing Trauma | Alton Fitzgerald White

***Content Advisory: This episode includes a candid discussion of childhood sexual abuse and its lasting impact. Our guest speaks openly and vulnerably about his personal experience. We believe this conversation can offer real comfort and connection to listeners who've faced similar experiences — but please take care of yourself while listening, and feel free to skip or pause as needed.*** If you or someone you know has experienced abuse, support is available: RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673 (24/7, confidential) Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-422-4453 The Lion King and Becoming Who You're Meant to Be | Alton Fitzgerald White What if the trauma you survived was actually preparing you for your purpose? The Lion King teaches us that we're all scarred, we're all shaped by what happens to us — but we get to decide what comes next. Alton Fitzgerald White played Mufasa on Broadway for 4,380 performances, but his real journey started in the projects of Cincinnati, where a painfully shy kid who was abused and bullied became the king. He's now an author, speaker, and mentor who helps others find the strength that was always inside them. 🎯 3 Actionable Takeaways Identify One Person Who Sees Your Potential — Find someone you trust who recognizes something in you that you can't yet see in yourself, and let their belief in you become the bridge to your own. Why it works: Alton's choir teacher, his mentors in theater, and the woman who told him "your voice has something special" were the turning points. One person's genuine recognition can shift everything.Set Boundaries Around Your Energy, Not Your Ambition — Schedule time for something that restores you — whether it's hot yoga, running, cooking, or time in nature — and protect it like you protect your most important meeting. Why it works: Alton sustained 4,380 performances of Mufasa by refusing to let the role consume his entire life. Balance isn't laziness; it's the infrastructure that lets you show up at your best.Choose Gratitude Over Ego When Success Arrives — When you accomplish something big, immediately remember the people and moments that got you there, and let that gratitude anchor you. Why it works: Alton credits his mentors, his teachers, and his faith for keeping him grounded through six Broadway shows. 🔦 EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS Growing up in public housing in Cincinnati as the only boy in a household of seven kids, and how that shaped his sensitivity and empathyThe moment a choir teacher's simple words — "your voice, the quality of your voice. You've got something special" — unlocked his entire careerThe difference between letting trauma define you and using it as fuel: "That little painfully shy kid who was abused and teased and bullied became the king"Why Mufasa taught him that quiet strength and presence matter more than a lot of wordsHow he sustained 4,380 performances without burning out by creating a life outside the showWhy a mentor's advice before his first Broadway show — "don't take on other people's projections" — became the foundation for protecting his peace👤 ABOUT ALTON FITZGERALD WHITE Alton Fitzgerald White is a Broadway legend who played Mufasa in The Lion King for 4,380 performances, making him one of the most consistent and celebrated performers in theater history. He's performed in six Broadway shows total, including Miss Saigon, The Color Purple, and Ragtime. Beyond the stage, Alton is an author of My Pride: Mastering Life's Daily Performance, a sought-after speaker and mentor f...
Jul 23

Encanto and Breaking Free From Perfectionism | Angie White on Self-Worth

Yes And Land — Show Notes What if the gift you're looking for is actually already inside you? Encanto explores that exact question through Mirabel, who spends the whole movie waiting for a magical gift—only to discover her real power was her ability to see and unlock the gifts in everyone around her. Angie White, COO at Jolley's Corner, knows that journey intimately. She's spent her life learning to trade perfectionism for self-worth, fear of failure for curiosity, and self-abandonment for the courage to step into her own power. 🎯 3 Actionable Takeaways Get Curious When Your Guard Goes Up — The next time you feel defensive or resistant to something you hear, pause and ask yourself why. Why do you feel this way? What's triggering that response? Why it works: Curiosity breaks the automatic shame spiral that keeps us stuck in perfectionism. It transforms a defensive moment into a learning opportunity. Be True to Yourself, Not Just Conforming — This week, identify one area where you're conforming to expectations instead of being authentic. Ask yourself: Am I doing this because it's who I am, or because I'm avoiding shame? Why it works: Self-abandonment creates anxiety and anger. When you align your actions with your actual values, you reclaim your power—just like Mirabel did when she stopped waiting for permission to be herself. Move Forward Even When You Don't Know Everything — Take one small step toward something you want, even if you don't have all the answers or the perfect credentials. Why it works: Angie didn't have an MBA when she started her business, but she figured it out. You don't have to know everything to begin. You learn by doing, and that's where real confidence is built. 🔦 EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS How perfectionism masked itself as "not disappointing people" and held Angie back from pursuing her nursing degree The Encanto parallel: Mirabel's realization that "the gift is me" mirrors Angie's journey to understanding her inherent worth Why self-abandonment—conforming to everyone's expectations—creates anxiety and anger, and how recognizing it is the first step to change Angie's inflection point: discovering an eight-year-old version of herself with "frizzy red hair, bossing everyone around"—the wild, authentic self she'd pushed down The business opportunity that taught her she could innovate, figure things out, and overcome obstacles without formal credentials How failing as a leader (difficult conversations with employees) became her greatest teacher, not her greatest shame The difference between guilt ("I did something bad") and shame ("I am bad")—and why that distinction changes everything Transitioning to her COO role and realizing: "This time I'm thinking I have something to offer and I can help" Why curiosity is the antidote to perfectionism, and how asking "why" instead of defending yourself opens doors 👤 ABOUT ANGIE WHITE Angie White is COO at Jolley's Corner, where she oversees operations and leads a team with curiosity and grace. She spent 15 years building a business from the ground up, learning that innovation doesn't require an MBA—it requires willingness to fail, learn, and keep moving forward. A mother of four, lifelong reader, puzzle enthusiast, and self-described rule follower turned safe rule breaker, Angie brings both discipline and heart to everything she does. 📺 ABOUT YES AND LAND Yes And Land explores the leadership lessons, relationship dynamics, and hard choices hidden in the stories we love. Hosted by Ryan Gregerson, a family law attorney at RCG Law Group, Disney enthusiast, and business coach for law firm owners at Altium Advisors, each epi...
Jul 16

The Incredibles and Why Marriages Fall Apart with Cassie Callister

What if your marriage is falling apart because you've stopped showing up as a team? The Incredibles reveals the cost of turning away from each other instead of turning toward the problem. Bob and Helen drift into secrecy, competing priorities, and unmet needs—until they remember what actually matters. Cassie Callister, a life coach who has guided hundreds through relationship transformation and personal healing, knows that the gap between a breaking marriage and a thriving one often comes down to one thing: whether you're willing to do the work on yourself first. 🎯 3 Actionable Takeaways Give People the Most Generous Assumption — When your partner says or does something that stings, pause and assume they had good intent before you react. Why it works: Most conflict escalates because we interpret actions through fear instead of love. A generous assumption keeps the door open for real conversation instead of defensiveness. Turn to Love Over Fear — In moments of doubt, vulnerability, or conflict, choose the loving action over the fearful one, even when it feels risky. Why it works: Fear keeps us hidden and separated. Love—real, honest, transparent love—is what actually builds the trust that holds marriages together through hard seasons. Work on Your Relationship With Yourself First — Spend time understanding your own patterns, beliefs, and triggers before expecting your partner to meet all your needs. Why it works: When you know yourself and love yourself, you stop abandoning your own boundaries. You show up as a whole person, not a person looking for someone else to complete you. 🔦 EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS How Cassie got married at 18 for safety and security, then spent years discovering she'd abandoned herself in the process The difference between sympathy and empathy when someone is grieving—and why presence without judgment is the superpower Why Bob's job loss mirrors what happens when a man's entire identity is wrapped up in one role (provider, protector, hero) The John Gottman insight: trust erodes through a thousand small moments of turning away, not one big betrayal How transparency and vulnerability actually invite emotional intimacy, even though they feel terrifying Why self-love isn't bubble baths—it's boundaries, self-respect, and the courage to communicate what you're okay with and not okay with The cost of people-pleasing in relationships and how it leads to resentment, not connection How Bob and Helen finally break the cycle: by becoming a team against the problem instead of a team against each other 👤 ABOUT CASSIE CALLISTER Cassie is a life coach who has worked with hundreds of people navigating relationship challenges, grief, and personal transformation. A Utah native, she was married young, divorced after years of self-abandonment, and spent over a decade studying human psychology and her own life experiences to understand how we show up in relationships. She specializes in helping people—especially men and women in their 30s through 60s—develop the self-awareness and communication skills to either heal their marriages or process separation with integrity. Her work is grounded in trauma-informed coaching and the belief that the relationship you have with yourself determines the relationships you have with everyone else. Connect with Cassie: 🌐 [Website information not mentioned in transcript] 📺 ABOUT YES AND LAND Yes And Land explores the leadership lessons, relationship dynamics, and hard choices hidden in the stories we love. Hosted by Ryan Gregerson, a family law attorney at RCG Law Group, Disney enthusiast, and business coach for law firm owners at Altium Advisors, each episode connects familiar narratives to real-wor...
Jul 9

Moana and Designing a Life You Love with Cierra Clayson

What if the strongest version of yourself comes from the hardest seasons you've lived through? Moana asks that question through a girl who sails beyond the reef despite every doubt around her. Cierra, brand manager at Minky Couture, has lived that exact story—losing a child, navigating two divorces, and stepping back into the workforce with nothing but her own conviction that she was capable of more than people believed. 🎯 3 Actionable Takeaways Jump Without Overthinking — Don't let fear paralyze you into inaction. The moment you're ready to move forward, move. Why it works: Sierra shot her shot at dinner with Sandy Hendry when her marriage had just ended five days prior. Overthinking would have kept her stuck. Action breaks the cycle.Don't Stop When It Gets Hard — Fear and doubt will make you want to retreat the moment something doesn't go the way you planned. Keep going anyway. Why it works: Cierra joined 14 different chambers of commerce, didn't know the business, and kept showing up. That persistence is what built her credibility and moved the needle at Minky.Serve Others to Find Yourself — Being kind, having real conversations, and looking outward instead of inward is the fastest way to build trust and discover your own strength. Why it works: When Cierra stopped trying to prove herself and started genuinely connecting with people on a personal level first, the business followed naturally.🔦 EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS How losing her infant son Jack 11 years ago fundamentally changed Cierra's capacity for empathy and shaped who she is todayThe moment Cierra pitched herself to Sandy Hendry at dinner—five days after her husband left—and how vulnerability became her greatest assetWhy her first marriage ended: not because of the loss of Jack, but because they didn't grieve him together, and grief became a wall instead of a bridgeThe mantra from Moana that Cierra repeats daily: "I am Moana. I will do this." And how mantras shift meaning as you growHow being a single mom with 50/50 custody forced Cierra to be radically present—because she only has half the time, she refuses to waste any of itThe difference between being strong and being resentful of your own strength—and how both emotions can coexistWhy kindness without genuine connection is just niceness, and how genuine relationships are built on curiosity instead of judgmentSierra's quote above her vanity: "She designed a life she loved"—and what that actually looks like in practice👤 ABOUT CIERRA Cierra is the brand manager at Minky Couture, a company that has donated $5.5 million worth of blankets to people in need over the past year. She holds a degree in communications with a minor in theater from BYU-Idaho, spent a decade raising three boys, and has spent the last four years building Minky's marketing presence from the ground up. Her story is one of resilience, genuine connection, and the belief that you are more capable than people know. Connect with Cierra: 🌐 Minky Couture 📺 ABOUT YES AND LAND Yes And Land explores the leadership lessons, relationship dynamics, and hard choices hidden in the stories we love. Hosted by Ryan Gregerson, a family law attorney at RCG Law Group, Disney enthusiast, and business coach for law firm owners at Altium Advisors, each episode connects familiar narratives to real-world wisdom you can actually use. New episodes every Thursday.
Jul 2

Encanto and Losing Everything | James Alvarez on Finding Purpose

What happens when the worst moment of your life becomes the catalyst for your greatest strength? Encanto answers that question through Casita, the house that holds a family together through impossible loss. James experienced his own darkest moment on a regular Tuesday in Anaheim—a car accident that took his pregnant wife, Yesenia, but miraculously saved his newborn daughter. Now, five years later, he's using that tragedy to inspire thousands, proving that the miracle isn't some external gift. The miracle is you. James is a devoted father, ultrasound technician, and content creator whose story of grief, resilience, and radical love has touched countless lives online. 🎯 3 Actionable Takeaways Dedicate at least 20 minutes of your day to the people who matter most — Give them your full, undivided attention, even if you've been away for eight to ten hours. Why it works: Children don't measure love by the hours you're gone; they measure it by the quality of the moments you're present for them.Reframe your hardest moments as opportunities to show up — When you're exhausted, grieving, or overwhelmed, choose to be the person your loved ones need you to be. Why it works: James learned that his daughter's fight for life gave him permission to fight for his own purpose; your struggle can become your strength.Notice the signs that your loved ones are still with you — Whether it's a butterfly, a hummingbird, or an unexpected moment of clarity, pause and acknowledge the presence of those you've lost. Why it works: Honoring connection—even in grief—keeps you grounded and reminds you that love transcends loss.🔦 EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS The moment James found out he was going to be a father after trying for over a year—and how that joy was shattered just weeks later on a Tuesday walk near DisneylandThe emergency C-section that saved his daughter's life after she went 20 minutes without oxygen in the womb, while his wife, Yesenia, did not surviveHis daughter's fight through the NICU: breathing apparatus, jaundice, a small stroke in the frontal lobe, and a therapeutic cooling procedure—and how her strength became his strengthThe brutal reality of single parenthood: zero sleep for a week, learning to change diapers (including a memorable blowout), and discovering that those mundane moments are actually the most sacredHow Encanto's message—"The miracle is you"—mirrors his own journey: his daughter is the miracle, not because of some gift or power, but simply because she isFinding love again five years later, becoming a father to a newborn son, and watching his daughter embrace her role as a big sisterThe superstitious signs that keep him connected to Yesenia: white butterflies and hummingbirds that appear when he needs them most👤 ABOUT JAMES James is an ultrasound technician, devoted father, and content creator who has transformed unimaginable grief into a message of hope and resilience. After losing his wife, Yesenia, in a car accident while she was 36 weeks pregnant, James became a single father to a miracle daughter who survived against impossible odds. He now shares his story freely—not for publicity or financial gain, but to inspire others navigating loss, grief, and the search for purpose. His journey from devastation to joy, and his unwavering commitment to being present for his children, has touched thousands online. Connect with James: https://www.instagram.com/jameslalvarez/ 📺 ABOUT YES AND LAND Yes And Land explores the leadership lessons, relationship dynamics, and hard choices hidden in the stories we love. Hosted by Ryan Gregerson, a family law attorney at RCG Law, Disney enthusiast, and business coach for...
Jun 25

Little Mermaid Communication: TALK Framework with Chalise Westenkow

The Little Mermaid and the Art of Real Communication What happens when a parent refuses to listen to their child? The Little Mermaid shows us the cost. King Triton's unwillingness to have a genuine conversation with Ariel—his refusal to ask questions, to understand her perspective, to meet her where she is—doesn't protect her. It pushes her straight into Ursula's arms. Chalise, a certified financial planner and certified divorce financial analyst, knows from her professional practice that communication breakdown is often the root cause of everything else that falls apart. Today we're breaking down the TALK framework from Harvard communication expert Allison Woodbrooks, and learning how to have conversations that actually build connection instead of destroy it. 🎯 3 Actionable Takeaways (Pulled directly from Chalise's closing segment) Practice T, A, L, and K Consistently — Spend time studying and improving the TALK framework (Topics, Asking, Levity, Kindness) in your everyday conversations. Why it works: The more you practice these four elements, the better communicator you become, and that improvement trickles into every aspect of your life—relationships, parenting, work, everything.Prepare Topics Before Important Conversations — Spend a little time beforehand thinking about a few things you can bring to the conversation, even just 30 seconds of mental prep. Why it works: Being prepared reduces anxiety, makes everybody more relaxed, and helps the conversation flow better from the start.Ask Better Questions and Listen Actively — Ask follow-up questions, show the person you care by making eye contact and being present, and listen to understand rather than to respond. Why it works: Active listening demonstrates that you genuinely value what the other person is saying, which builds real connection and trust.🔦 EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS King Triton's refusal to have a conversation with Ariel mirrors what happens in real divorces—communication breakdown is often the root cause of everything else that falls apartThe TALK framework: Topics (prepare), Asking (follow-up questions), Levity (sparkle and fizz), Kindness (the most important element)How asking "What do you need from me?" can be one of the most effective questions in hard conversationsThe difference between genuine curiosity and asking questions just to steer the conversation back to yourselfWhy body language matters more than words—Ursula's threatening body language creates distrust before she ever speaksHow to break through one-word answers from your kids by naming it with humor and levity, then reloading the conversationThe power of acknowledgment first: "It makes sense that you're feeling this way" opens the door to real dialogue👤 ABOUT CHALISE WESTENKOW Chalise Westenkow is a Certified Financial Planner and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst who helps people make good financial decisions when the stakes are high and emotions are high. A Sandy, Utah native who studied economics at the University of Utah, she brings both analytical rigor and deep empathy to her work—whether she's helping families navigate retirement planning or guiding clients through the financial complexity of divorce. Her professional practice has taught her that communication breakdown is often the thread that, when pulled, unravels everything else. https://www.linkedin.com/in/chalise-westenskow/ 📺 ABOUT YES AND LAND Yes And Land explores the leaders....

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Trailer

Yes And Land With Ryan Gregerson Trailer

Welcome to Yes And Land with Ryan Gregerson. This is the podcast where curiosity leads, creativity thrives, and every conversation builds instead of shuts down. Inspired by the improviser’s golden rule of “yes, and…,” Ryan Gregerson invites thinkers, creators, leaders, and culture-shapers into open, open-minded conversations about ideas in motion. No shouting matches. No hot takes for clicks. Just thoughtful dialogue that expands what’s possible. What makes Yes And Land different? Ryan uses Disney movies as unexpected but powerful talking points, weaving familiar stories, characters, and themes into deeper conversations about creativity, leadership, collaboration, and the human experience. From timeless animated classics to modern blockbusters, these films become shared reference points that help connect big ideas in a way that’s accessible, fun, and surprisingly insightful. In this trailer, you’ll get a taste of what’s ahead: meaningful dialogue, creative frameworks, and a little movie magic that ties it all together. Whether you’re a creator, entrepreneur, performer, or lifelong learner, this show invites you to say “yes” to curiosity and “and” to building something better. 🎙️ New episodes coming soon. 👉 Subscribe now and join the conversation. 👉 Learn more and explore the network at www.ridethewave.media Welcome to Yes And Land. Let’s build from here 🌱

out of 5

6 Ratings

Passionate and Purposeful

Jan 21

Hcurby

I value Ryan’s passion to lift up others and help encourage his listeners while also seeing his guests and sharing space at the table. Ryan has a special talent for making people feel they belong and are valued as well as connecting with people where they are in life. Excited to see where this ride takes us.