The Courageous Podcast with Ryan Berman Ryan Berman

“If I’m not scared, I don’t know that I want to be doing it.” Amanda Dunks loves living outside her comfort zone. As Senior Vice President of Brand Strategy and Creative Development at Caesars Entertainment, she's been making waves in the gaming world for over 12 years. In her conversation with Ryan, Amanda shares her insights from navigating mergers, emphasizing the value of learning through trial by fire and the abandonment of the pursuit of perfection. She discusses her approach to hiring, prioritizing potential over credentials, and the delicate balance between agency-like creativity and corporate structure. Amanda also explores the intersection of brand strategy and creative development, highlighting the importance of visionary leadership and practical implementation. Don't miss Amanda's advice to embrace fear as a sign of growth and her encouragement for authenticity in business, reminding listeners to pursue what they love.

Leader. Fighter. Athlete. Believer. TV Personality. Purveyor of Human Rights. Mexican professional soccer star Janelly Farias is a powerhouse on and off the pitch. At 34 years old, she is thriving as a professional soccer player, defying odds and stereotypes in the male-dominated world of Mexican sports while currently playing center-mid for club Juárez in the Liga MX Femenil. With resilience for a backbone, she shares her winding journey navigating injuries and familial rejection while staying true to herself as a strong gay woman. Janelly and Ryan delve into the importance of keeping it real in the era of curated social media personas. Tune in as Janelly reflects on her mantra of embracing challenges fearlessly, knowing that true greatness lies beyond the confines of comfort.

In today's ever-changing work landscape, being adaptable is more important than ever. Corey and his team at PrismWork specialize in helping brands and leaders navigate the complexities of modern leadership, creating inclusive environments where everyone can succeed. Recently taking on his brave new role as CEO, Corey chats with Ryan about how he balances staying connected with his team while handling his endless list of responsibilities. He opens up about the challenge of stepping out of his comfort zone, a journey that ultimately helped him grow. Throughout this conversation, Corey talks about how he is fully embracing every opportunity in front of him with courage. Corey also shares what’s behind PrismWork’s proprietary HEARTI leadership assessment and stresses the significance of having diverse teams to avoid falling into echo chambers.

Hailing from the UK, Nick Bell's childhood consisted of collecting soccer stickers of his favorite athletes. As an adult, he’s transitioned this passion to trading cards, reigning as CEO of Fanatics Live, the foremost platform for sports card breaking. Having previously held positions at tech giants Google and Snap, Nick delves into how he's using data to capitalize on the resurgence of the collectible trading card market. Ryan and Nick explore the intricacies of building relationships with iconic figures like LeBron James and reflect on Nick's experiences at Snap, including the complexities of taking the company public and the invaluable lessons learned, such as the importance of reverse-engineering goals to achieve success.

Wayne Partello's journey is a testament of his versatility, persistence and resilience. Spanning from his graduation from the police academy at 19 to establishing a thriving DJ business, and later, a decade-long stint in sports with the Miami Dolphins and the San Diego Padres, Wayne now has a business of his own as the founder of his growing marketing firm, CUENTO. In his conversation with Ryan, the two swap stories of "figure-it-out-ability," advocating for patience and perseverance when tackling lofty goals. Later in the episode, Ryan and Wayne exchange insights on the indispensable role of courageous leaders and the importance of embracing individuality in the business landscape.

While most of us were sleeping, the San Diego Padres were kicking off a new season on the other side of the world this week in South Korea. Joining them for the first of 150 baseball games he’ll witness this year is seasoned sports journalist Kevin Acee. With over 30 years of experience, Acee remains a road warrior as the Padres beat writer at The San Diego Union-Tribune. Despite his extensive career, baseball remains his true passion, marveling at the privilege of watching, writing, and discussing the game he loves. In this discussion, Acee shares how he churns out 3,000 words a day while navigating the demands of an eight-month Padres season.