Ride The Wave Media

•

Channel • 5 Shows

Society & Culture

Society & Culture

Updated Weekly
Spirituality

Spirituality

Updated Weekly
Sports

Sports

Updated Monthly
Personal Journals

Personal Journals

Updated Weekly
TV & Film

TV & Film

Updated Daily

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...
Aug 13

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.
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...
Jun 4

Turning Red: What Your Teen's Meltdowns Are Really Telling You | Mitchell Acton

What if every time your teen shuts you out, they're not being difficult — they're actually developing exactly the way they should? Turning Red shows us why. Mei's red panda doesn't appear because she's broken — it appears because she's suppressing everything she's been taught not to feel. And that's exactly what Mitchell Acton, clinical director at Kane Counseling, sees play out with real families every day. 🎯 3 Actionable Takeaways Parent from the Inside Out — Do your own emotional work before reacting to your teen. Why it works: If you were socially rejected at 13, your 13-year-old's struggles will trigger you — and you'll react to your wound, not their need.Knock Before You Enter (Literally and Figuratively) — Contract with your teen for privacy before conflict arises. Why it works: Teens aren't shutting you out — they're building identity. Respecting that boundary keeps the door open for the conversations that matter.Name Your Panda — Identify the messy, loud parts of yourself you've been suppressing. Why it works: You can't model emotional integration for your kids until you've practiced it yourself. Vulnerability is the most connecting thing a parent can offer. In this episode, Mitchell Acton — clinical director at Kane Counseling and licensed clinical social worker — joins Ryan to unpack what Turning Red gets startlingly right about adolescent development, family enmeshment, and why suppressed emotions always find a way out. Mitch's path mirrors the movie's arc: a natural "glue guy" who valued connection, struggled to find it, and eventually turned that pain into a career helping families navigate exactly what Mei and her mom couldn't. Using Turning Red as our lens, we explore why Mei's red panda is both a puberty metaphor and a symbol of every thought and feeling she learned wasn't safe to share — and what breaks that cycle across generations. HIGHLIGHTS Why the red panda is actually a clinical-grade metaphor for puberty and suppressed adolescent emotionThe difference between empathy and enmeshment — and the one scene in Turning Red that shows enmeshment perfectlyWhy your teen's peer relationships are developmentally essential (even when you don't love their friends)What it means to "parent from the inside out" — and why your unresolved wounds become your kid's triggersHow generational patterns get passed down and what it takes to actually break themThe dad's quiet line in Turning Red that might be the most important parenting advice in the whole film ABOUT MITCHELL ACTON: Mitchell Acton is a licensed clinical social worker and the Clinical Director at Kane Counseling Center in the Salt Lake City area. With a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Utah, Mitch began his career working with at-risk teens at Gateway Academy in Draper. Known as the "glue guy" in his own friend group growing up, he now brings that same instinct for connection into his clinical work with families, couples, and individuals — specializing in adolescent development, emotion suppression, enmeshment, and healthy family systems. He's also a dad of three navigating all of this in real time. 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 12

Your Body Knows You Did Too Much: Listen Before Fall Arrives

Practically Magick: Harvest Season Crafting & The Knight of Cups The Wheel of the Year has turned to Lunasa, the first harvest. This episode opens with the Knight of Cups, a card about grand gestures, emotional investment, and recognizing when effort flows one direction in a relationship. Courtney unpacks what this card reveals about love spells, commitment, and the red flags worth paying attention to. But today's real work happens in the dining room, where Courtney is making smoke-cleansing bundles from foraged materials: mullein leaves, lavender, pine, and Utah sagebrush. This is practical magic for the season, the time when we sort what we've cultivated all year and decide what stays, what goes, and what deserves our energy moving forward. Courtney addresses an important distinction: smoke cleansing is not the same as smudging. She explains the difference between clearing residual energy and blessing a space, and why it matters to honor indigenous practices rather than appropriate them. She walks through her own process for home cleansings, using sound and intention alongside smoke. The larger theme is burnout. If you didn't rest during summer's peak, your body will confront you now. Courtney shares her own experience of overcommitting, only to hit the harvest season depleted. This is the moment to look at what's actually on your table and choose what matters. Plus, details on the Practically Magick 2 screening event and free ticket giveaway happening September 10th. Subscribe wherever you listen. Watch the full episode at https://www.youtube.com/@PracticallyMagickpodcast
May 14

Frozen and the Power of Embracing What Makes You Different | with Stephanie Dowland

Frozen teaches us that the thing we've spent our lives hiding might be exactly what the world needs most. Stephanie Dowland was born with a birth defect affecting her hands — and like Elsa, she spent years concealing it. Gloves. Cotton balls stuffed in the fingers. A lifetime of quietly stepping back so no one would notice. Until the piano changed everything. 🎯 3 Actionable Takeaways Let It Go (For Real) – Release one expectation you've been carrying that was never really yours. Why it works: You can't show up fully as yourself while performing someone else's version of you.Discover Your Inner Olaf – Reconnect with the thing you loved before life taught you to be embarrassed by it. Why it works: That uninhibited, joyful version of you is where your best work lives.Find Your Five People – Surround yourself with people whose character you want to reflect. Why it works: You become the average of who you spend the most time with — so choose intentionally.Through the lens of Frozen, Ryan and Stephanie explore what it really means to let it go — and why love, not willpower, is what sets us free. #YesAndLand #DisneyAdults #DisneyPodcast #Frozen #LetItGo #EmbraceYourDifference #PersonalGrowth
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.
Jun 18

Inside Out and Why Nobody Listens | BJ Oldroyd

YES AND LAND — SHOW NOTES What happens when a leader stops listening and starts planning their reply instead? Inside Out shows us exactly that moment at the dinner table—when Riley's dad is so locked in his own head that he completely misses what his family is trying to communicate. BJ Oldroyd, who's spent years leading teams in the startup world and mastering the art of genuine human connection, breaks down why this happens and how to fix it. 🎯 3 Actionable Takeaways Take a Breath Before You Respond — Pause for a beat before answering in any conversation, especially intense ones. Why it works: It stops you from reacting on pure emotion and gives you space to articulate what you actually mean instead of fumbling through it.Be Mindful of How You're Perceived — Pay attention to your facial expressions and body language in conversations, especially if you're leading them. Why it works: Even if you're genuinely focused, you might look zoned out or upset, which makes the other person less likely to listen to what you have to say.Talk Human to Human, Not Role to Role — Find moments to remove the business element and just connect as people, while maintaining professionalism. Why it works: When both sides see each other as humans first, harder conversations become possible because respect and genuine care are already established.🔦 EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS The dinner table scene where Riley's dad is completely checked out—a perfect mirror of how we all listen with the intent to reply instead of to understandBJ's story of breaking through with an older team member by simply asking if everything was okay, which led to a real conversationThe Stephen Covey quote: "Most people do not listen with the intent to understand. They listen with the intent to reply."How Riley finally opens up to her parents: "I know you don't want me to, but I miss home"—the power of allowing someone to feel what they're feelingThe Inside Out moment where Joy embraces Sadness and core memories shift from pain to joy, showing that vulnerability leads to connectionBJ's two-pronged approach: asking "Can I offer you some feedback?" and then asking the person to identify their own areas for improvement first👤 ABOUT BJ OLDROyD BJ is a Disney enthusiast and startup leader who's spent years building teams and fostering psychological safety in high-growth companies like Thumbtack. He's passionate about the human element of communication and believes that genuine connection—treating people as humans first, not roles—is the foundation of effective leadership. His love for Disney was rekindled in 2015 when a friend invited him to Disneyland, and he's been an annual passholder ever since. Connect with BJ: 🌐 https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-oldroyd-69598348/ 📺 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.
Apr 23

Dream Chasing and the Magic of Disney Imagineering | Bob Weis on Building Impossible Dreams

Dream Chasing is what Bob Weis spent four decades doing at Walt Disney Imagineering — and in this episode, he shares exactly what that journey looks like from the inside. Bob Weiss, former President of Walt Disney Imagineering, joins Ryan Gregerson to unpack the leadership philosophy, creative culture, and dream-chasing wisdom behind some of Disney's greatest parks and attractions — including Tokyo Disneyland, Shanghai Disneyland, Tower of Terror, Rise of the Resistance, and more. 🎯 3 Actionable Takeaways Seek Out Allies – Get collaborators who believe in your dream as much as you do. The best ideas go from "mine" to "ours" in the right room.Be Passionate Yet Flexible – Know what you want. Stay open to how it gets done.Keep a Positive, Collaborative Attitude – Failures don't disappear — they become part of who you are and show up in your next great thing.From working outdoor foods at Disneyland as a college student to leading a 1,500-person global creative team, Bob's story is a masterclass in what it means to pursue something worthy. He shares lessons from Marty Sklar, Bob Iger, Josh D'Amaro, and Stephen Covey — and the story of how he walked into Bob Iger's office to say Rise of the Resistance wasn't ready to open. This one is for every dreamer, builder, and leader who's ever been afraid to chase the thing that won't leave them alone. 📚 Get Bob's book Dream Chasing wherever audiobooks are sold (Bob narrates it himself). 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. #YesAndLand #DisneyAdults #DisneyPodcast #WaltDisneyImagineering #DreamChasing #BobWeiss #DisneyParks #Imagineering

Ride The Wave Media is a premier podcast network founded by veteran producer Just Blane. We empower creators in sports, arts, and personal development to share authentic stories. Explore our roster including Parallel Frequencies!

Website

Ride The Wave Media

Top Shows

Top Episodes

About