The Courageous Podcast with Ryan Berman

Jaksot

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  Ahmet Bozer - Former President of Coca-Cola International 16.09.2026 55min

  What happens when you reach the top of the mountain and realize there’s still more of yourself to discover? Ahmet Bozer spent 25 years at The Coca-Cola Company, eventually becoming President of Coca-Cola International, overseeing operations across more than 200 countries and roughly $80 billion in retail revenue. But his next chapter turned inward. In this conversation with Ryan, Ahmet shares what leading across vastly different cultures taught him about the things people have in common, how he learned to reset after difficult moments rather than carry them into the next meeting, and why the most important person any leader will ever learn to lead is themselves. They also dig into the idea behind his new book, Soulgery, and why Ahmet believes our thoughts, emotions, and everyday patterns can either trap our potential or help unlock it.
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  Mandy Balak — Author of Chasing Enough 09.09.2026 50min

  Suffer from achievement addiction? It’s a real thing. When accomplishment becomes the drug and slowing down feels threatening because it forces you to sit with yourself you might be in it. Mandy Balak knows the feeling. She was succeeding on the outside while quietly running on empty. As a three-time founder, she led a growing team, and collected plenty of accolades all while navigating the loss of her father, and a pattern of pushing through everything alone. Now, as President of The Gathering and author of new book Chasing Enough, Mandy is challenging high achievers to rethink what sustainable success looks like. In this conversation with Ryan, she opens up about how childhood patterns can quietly follow us into our careers, and the wake-up call that finally forced her to stop and look inward. Mandy also breaks down the difference between a “chasing leader” and a “choosing leader,” and the simple question that can reveal what’s really driving you.
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  Raising Courageous Kids - Ryan Berman on KTLA 02.09.2026 13min

  This week, Ryan Berman is turning the Courageous Podcast toward a different kind of challenge: raising courageous kids. Fresh off a back-to-school appearance on KTLA, Ryan shares the full segment and expands on why curiosity can be one of the best ways to help kids navigate fear, anxiety, and unfamiliar situations. He talks about resisting the urge to rescue kids from discomfort, building confidence through small acts of courage, and the simple formula he tries to follow as a dad: attention + belief. Plus, Ryan shares why courage is a muscle kids can strengthen over time and a simple question for every parent to consider: when you walk into the room, are your kids gaining energy from you?
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  Shirley M. Collado, Ph.D. - President & CEO at College Track 26.08.2026 1t 1min

  Dr. Shirley M. Collado knows firsthand how transformative an education can be. The daughter of Dominican immigrants who grew up in a working-class Brooklyn neighborhood, she became the first in her family to attend college and eventually made history as the first Dominican American to serve as president of a four-year college in the United States. Now, as President and CEO of College Track, she’s taking on an even bigger challenge: making sure a student’s zip code, family income, or access to resources doesn’t determine how far their talent can take them. In this conversation, Ryan and Shirley unpack College Track’s 10-year commitment to first-generation students and the unlikely partnerships helping bring that mission to life, from Kevin Durant and his mother Wanda to the Baltimore Ravens and M&T Bank. They also wrestle with a much bigger question about the future of higher education and why America has struggled to tell a compelling story about its value.
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  Jackie Plaza - Vice President Marketing and Sales at SeaWorld San Diego 19.08.2026 47min

  Jackie Plaza knows a thing or two about betting on yourself. She left a successful career in Los Angeles for a new opportunity in San Diego, stepped into the challenge of helping reshape perceptions of one of the one of the world’s most recognizable theme parks, and discovered that taking risks gets a little easier once you’ve survived a few that didn’t work out. Today, as VP Marketing and Sales at SeaWorld San Diego, Jackie is bringing that same willingness to experiment to a brand with more than 60 years of history. In their conversation, Ryan and Jackie talk about the freedom that comes from getting comfortable with failure, why the best leaders know when to call an audible, and what happened when a seemingly crazy idea for a hip-hop and R&B concert series became a massive hit. Jackie also shares the side of SeaWorld she didn’t fully understand until she joined the company, including its decades of animal rescue work and the experience of releasing rehabilitated animals back into the wild.
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  Ania Smith - CEO at Taskrabbit 12.08.2026 52min

  Ania Smith learned early that you can’t control everything that happens to you, but you can be intentional about what you do next. After moving from Poland to South Dakota at 12 without speaking English, she developed a curiosity and adaptability that would eventually take her to companies including Airbnb, Uber Eats, Walmart, and now Taskrabbit, where she serves as CEO. In this conversation with Ryan, Ania talks about the difference between reacting to change and choosing it for yourself, and why asking better questions has given her the confidence to keep making big moves. She also opens up about taking her family on a gap year in Argentina and the surprisingly simple framework she and her husband use to balance two ambitious careers with raising three kids. Plus, Ania shares what she’s learned from more than a decade building marketplaces, how AI could transform the way we hire people to help in our homes, and why staying close to Taskers remains deeply personal to her.
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  Change Isn't Effortless - Ryan Berman 05.08.2026 11min

  Everyone wants change to be easier. Ryan Berman thinks that's exactly the wrong goal. In this solo episode, Ryan challenges the growing belief that transformation should be effortless and makes the case that the strongest teams don't avoid friction—they create the right kind of it. Ryan explains why hard conversations are the real starting point of change, why leaders should stop trying to eliminate discomfort, and how alignment, belief, and clarity create the foundation for lasting transformation. He also shares the question every team should be asking, why "believe again" became one of Courageous' earliest rallying cries, and the mindset shift that can help leaders stop waiting for change and start creating it.
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  Elle McCarthy - VP Global Advertising and Product Marketing at McAfee 29.07.2026 52min

  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.
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  Adam Markel - Founder & CEO of WORKWELL Labs 22.07.2026 49min

  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.
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  Helen Calcraft - Founding Partner at Lucky Generals 15.07.2026 47min

  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.
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  DJ DiDonna - Founder at The Sabbatical Project 08.07.2026 49min

  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.
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  Mike McCabe - Deputy CEO & COO of the Esports Foundation 01.07.2026 53min

  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.
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  Melissa Ninegar - Senior Director of People & Culture at Once Upon a Farm 24.06.2026 44min

  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.
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  Jim Real - Former VP, Global Creative at Disney Experiences 17.06.2026 43min

  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.
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  Bracken Darrell - CEO at VF Corporation 10.06.2026 44min

  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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  Bonnie Wan - Bestselling Author of The Life Brief 03.06.2026 51min

  Bestselling author of The Life Brief and leadership strategist Bonnie Wan returns to The Courageous Podcast for a conversation about clarity, courage, and what it really means to live a life that feels like your own. Bonnie shares why so many people are unknowingly living someone else’s script, how language shapes leadership, and why finding your “f*** yes” starts with creating enough silence to hear yourself think. Ryan and Bonnie also explore Modern Elder Academy, the fear that comes with wanting more from your life, and the difference between comfort and fulfillment. Along the way, Bonnie opens up about the relationship brief that saved her marriage, why curiosity is essential to growth, and how the smallest honest decision can quietly begin to reshape an entire life.
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  BOSS = Bet On Self, Silly - Ryan Berman 27.05.2026 15min

  In this solo “quick hit” episode of The Courageous Podcast, Ryan unpacks the tension between safety and growth, why so many people stay stuck waiting for certainty, and how courage is often built through smaller decisions that slowly reshape who we become. Along the way, Ryan reflects on the loneliness ambitious people quietly carry, the future of Courageous, and the mindset he keeps coming back to lately: the people who build the lives they want eventually learn to bet on themselves before they feel fully ready.
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  David Lawlor - Former President at Kellanova Europe 20.05.2026 57min

  David Lawlor spent 35 years at Kellogg and Kellanova, eventually retiring as President of Kellanova Europe. In this conversation with Ryan, he reflects on the moves that shaped him most: leaving Ireland, building the company’s Middle Eastern business, leading in Russia, and stepping into roles that looked risky from the outside but became defining chapters in his career. He talks about fear as the starting line of growth, why the right agenda matters more than the longest to-do list, and how leaders build belief by creating cultures where people know they can make a difference. Now in retirement, David is thinking about identity, relevance, and what it means to keep growing when the operating rhythm suddenly goes quiet
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  Maya Colombani - VP, Chief Sustainability, Human Rights, and DEI at L’ORÉAL Canada 13.05.2026 48min

  Maya Colombani has spent more than two decades at L'Oréal helping redefine what beauty can mean in the modern world. As Chief Sustainability, Human Rights and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer for L'Oréal Canada, Maya brings a rare blend of conviction and global perspective to her work. Her career has taken her across countries including India, Brazil, and Canada, experiences that deeply shaped the way she thinks about beauty, leadership, and human connection. In this conversation with Ryan, she reflects on why courage means standing up for long-term values when it would be easier to stay quiet, how travel and cultural immersion reshaped her understanding of identity and human rights, and why beauty has far more to do with connection, humility, and authenticity than appearances. They also explore indigenous wisdom, women’s rights, leadership, power, and the responsibility that comes with having a voice in today’s increasingly polarized world.
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  Michael Fanuele - Chief Brand Officer at Shake Shack 06.05.2026 56min

  Michael Fanuele, Chief Brand Officer at Shake Shack, has built a career shaping some of the most iconic brands in the world. Over the course of his career, he has created market-moving work for brands such as Dos Equis, Arby’s, Cadillac, Charles Schwab, Cheerios, The Economist, and Volvo. In this conversation with Ryan, he brings that same clarity and curiosity to a personal story that changes how he thinks about leadership and creativity. From uncovering his biological family to stepping into a role with real momentum, Michael opens up about fear, identity, and the responsibility that comes with leading people. They talk about hospitality as a true brand advantage, why the best ideas often come from pushing into uncomfortable territory, and how great leaders create the conditions for others to do their best work.