The Courageous Podcast with Ryan Berman Ryan Berman

Kevin Swanepoel is CEO of The One Club, the world's foremost non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and celebrating the global creative community. Through The One Club, he directs prestigious award shows like the One Show, ADC Annual Awards, and Young Guns, as well as several education related initiatives. In his conversation with Ryan, Kevin stresses the importance of taking initiative without waiting for permission, sharing a compelling story about securing funding for a diversity focused education initiative. The two explore the notion that courage inspires more courage, while fear breeds fear, and discuss the necessity of persistence and adaptability when trying out new ideas. Kevin also advises those entering the advertising industry to leverage AI as a powerful tool rather than fear it, and highlights the significance of finding a post-COVID balance that enhances workplace happiness and fosters human connection.

Molly Tschang helps senior management and their teams Win As One. She has helped executives navigate over 80 mergers and acquisitions and the human after-effects of intense change. In her conversation with Ryan, Molly shares her notion that to be a good leader is to be a good coach. She points out that good leaders really want to know the truth, and why having a ‘shared reality’ between all levels of an organization is paramount in performing at the highest possible level. Finally, Molly gives advice to not let the fear of saying something ‘perfectly’ hold us back from communicating openly, and why we need to make peace with the things we really can’t change.

IN-Q is an Emmy nominated poet, multi-platinum songwriter, world renowned keynote speaker, and the best-selling author of Inquire Within. The Never Ending Now, his recent spoken word album and poetry journal, explore the importance of creativity for emotional and mental well-being.

Good leaders truly listen. Stephen Shedletzky, or “Shed” to his friends, helps leaders make it safe and worth it for people to speak up. A sought-after speaker, coach, and advisor, Shed has led hundreds of keynote presentations, workshops, and leadership development programs around the world. In his conversation with Ryan, Shed speaks on some of his early inspirations that set a foundation for his current career inspiring bravery in others, including the courageous tale of his Holocaust surviving Grandfather. Shed explains how to take steps towards embracing a speak-up culture, reminding leaders to both encourage people to speak up, and reward them when they do. The two also discuss how it becomes harder to get the truth from employees the higher up the leadership rank you get, and discuss why leadership cannot be claimed, it must be earned.

Brad Montague is creator of the hit web series Kid President and author of Becoming Better Grownups, the New York Times best sellers Kid President’s Guide to Being Awesome and The Circles All Around Us. All of Brad’s work has been guided by one key phrase: ‘be who you needed when you were younger’. In his conversation with Ryan, Brad reflects on his role as a “helper” and how his mission to make goodness attractive has landed him in the company of Beyoncé, Steven Martin, and President Obama. Brad also gives listeners priceless advice on moving from dreaming to doing, and reminds us that we become more courageous the more we live in our hearts.

Eric Ryan is a serial entrepreneur, investor, advisor, and father. He is the co-founder of multiple household brands including method, OLLY, Welly, Cast, and WILL Perform. Eric has been named an eco-leader by Vanity Fair, was PETA's Person of the Year, and can be found on Fortune’s 40 under 40 list. In their conversation, Eric gives listeners an inside look on what it takes to be a serial entrepreneur. He provides candid advice on how to avoid the “sophomore slump” coming off a successful venture. He also shares his motivation behind seeking out negative feedback as a first step to any new project. Or, as Eric likes to say to himself when entering a board room: Improve yourself, don’t prove yourself. Ryan and Eric cover a lot of ground in this conversational edition including how Eric recognizes that entering a flow state when discussing an idea is a good sign that he may have a winner.