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by Ryan Berman
Ryan Berman talks to thought leaders from around the globe in business, sports and entertainment to uncover what it means to be courageous in today's world.
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Elle McCarthy is drawn to transformation. It's the thread that connects everything she does, from challenging outdated ways of thinking to helping some of the world's biggest brands—including Ford, PayPal, EA, and now McAfee—reinvent themselves from the inside out. In this conversation with Ryan, Elle shares why real change starts by getting people to believe in what's possible, why the strongest brands are built long before a campaign ever launches, and how a little "chaos magic" has helped shape her approach to leadership. They also discuss building trust during times of change, the lessons motherhood has taught her about leading others, and the personal promise she's made to stay true to the values that first drew her into marketing.
Adam Markel has built his career around helping people navigate change, but lately he's been asking a bigger question: what if the real challenge isn't changing ourselves, but changing the systems we work in every day? After years advising Fortune 500 companies and studying resilience, Adam has become convinced that culture isn't a byproduct of leadership—it's the reason organizations succeed or struggle in the first place. In this conversation with Ryan, he unpacks why leaders can no longer expect employees to shoulder the burden of resilience alone, and what it looks like to build a culture that people actually want to be part of. They also dig into why so many well-intentioned leaders still get culture wrong and the simple idea that sits at the heart of Adam's new book, Re-Culture.
Helen Calcraft believes the best creative work can't exist without joy. At a time when fear, AI, and constant change are reshaping the advertising industry, the co-founder of Lucky Generals joins Ryan for a thoughtful conversation about what leaders can do to protect creativity instead of stifling it. Together, they explore why saying no is sometimes the most important decision a business can make, how trust became the foundation of Helen's decades-long creative partnership, and what she learned from building not one but two successful agencies. They also discuss the challenge of letting go of day to day control, the surprising lessons Helen is taking from executive coaching, and why designing the next chapter of your life requires every bit as much intention as building a great brand.
DJ DiDonna has spent years studying what happens when people have the courage to step away from work, and his new book, Big Time Off, makes the case that the biggest breakthroughs rarely happen while we're glued to our calendars. A senior lecturer at Harvard Business School and founder of The Sabbatical Project, DJ joins Ryan to challenge one of our most deeply held beliefs: that the path to success is always to keep pushing forward. Together, they explore why so many people wait for burnout, layoffs, or life-changing events before giving themselves permission to pause, and why creating space intentionally can lead to greater clarity, stronger leadership, and a more meaningful life. Ryan and DJ also discuss identity, ambition, the pressure to always be productive, and the surprising lessons that came from DJ's own 900-mile pilgrimage across Japan.
Mike McCabe has spent the last two decades helping shape the world of competitive gaming, but what excites him most is what comes next. In this conversation with Ryan, the Esports Foundation CEO shares his vision for esports as a truly global sport while reflecting on the realities of building something at a scale few people can imagine. From helping bring together the world's biggest games, players, and clubs to navigating the last-minute decision to move the Esports World Cup from Riyadh to Paris just weeks before competition, Mike offers a candid look at leadership under pressure. They also explore fandom, innovation, resilience, and the opportunities esports is creating for a new generation of competitors around the world. Their conversation comes just ahead of the Esports World Cup Paris 2026, which begins July 6 and runs through August 23. Follow the action at https://esportsworldcup.com/en
Melissa Ninegar has built a career helping people navigate some of life's biggest moments, but her most valuable leadership lessons didn't come from a handbook or HR playbook. In this conversation with Ryan, the Senior Director of People & Culture at Once Upon a Farm shares the hard-earned truths that have shaped how she leads, from believing you belong in every room you enter to choosing how life's toughest moments define you. Ryan and Melissa explore imposter syndrome, resilience, grief, growth, and why some of the most important leadership skills are rarely taught. They also discuss the power of showing up authentically, finding magic in the messy moments, and why the real opportunity in leadership begins when we stop seeing people as resources and start seeing them as humans.
After 15 years helping shape the storytelling behind Disney’s most iconic experiences, former Vice President of Global Creative Jim Real joins The Courageous Podcast to talk about what it means to leave a dream job in pursuit of what’s next. Drawing on a career that spans Disney, global agencies, and years spent building brands across the U.S. and Asia, Jim shares why courage is less about fearlessness and more about moving forward before the path is fully clear. Ryan and Jim explore the power of storytelling and the importance of curiosity. Jim also reflects on lessons from his father’s journey to sobriety, and why the next chapter of his career is focused on helping leaders, brands, and teams find the stories only they can tell.
Bracken Darrell has spent his career helping iconic brands rediscover what makes them matter. In this conversation with Ryan, Bracken reflects on the mindset that guided his work leading transformations at companies like Logitech, Old Spice, Braun, and now VF Corp, home to brands including Vans and The North Face. He shares why curiosity has been one of the greatest drivers of growth in his life, why speed matters more than perfection, and how the best leaders learn to stay optimistic without losing their edge. Ryan and Bracken also explore imposter syndrome, creativity inside large organizations, and the challenge of protecting new ideas from the “gravity” that naturally pulls big companies backward. Along the way, Bracken opens up about becoming more comfortable in his own skin over time and why the strongest brands succeed by helping people feel more like themselves.
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Ryan Berman talks to thought leaders from around the globe in business, sports and entertainment to uncover what it means to be courageous in today's world.
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