Brent Gleeson is a Navy SEAL combat veteran, bestselling author, and business transformation expert who has built his life around high performance, in every sense of the word. As the founder of EXCELR8 and author of Embrace the Suck, Brent brings a rare blend of battlefield experience and boardroom wisdom. In this episode, he and Ryan talk about what it means to lead with clarity, consistency, and conviction. Brent shares how sobriety reshaped his perspective, and how his work today helps teams grow through change instead of getting buried by it. Discipline, in Brent’s world, isn’t just a driver of performance—it’s a guardrail for everything that matters.

Jill Schulman is a former U.S. Marine Corps officer, leadership expert, and founder of Breakthrough Leadership Group. Her new book, The Bravery Effect, offers a science-backed approach to building courage. In this episode, she and Ryan go deep on what it means to run toward hard things instead of away from them. Jill shares the story of how a Minnesota kid who looked like Elle Woods became the top Marine in her officer class, how bravery became the throughline of her work, and why so many people confuse discomfort with failure. Together, they unpack the mindset shifts that unlock transformation, the self-talk that separates progress from paralysis, and the personal leap Jill is making right now as she doubles down on her mission.

Sterling Doak is a seasoned marketing executive with more than two decades of experience building brands at the intersection of music, culture, and lifestyle. Today, he serves as Vice President of Marketing at Gibson, where he leads with equal parts creative instinct and operational rigor inside one of the most iconic brands in the world. In this honest and often hilarious conversation, Sterling and Ryan reflect on their early agency days, the lessons that stuck, and the realities of leading with intention as the stakes get higher. Sterling shares how curiosity—not confidence—has fueled his biggest leaps, what it means to build trust without burning out your team, and why vulnerability is often the most courageous choice a leader can make.

In this edition of the Courage Brands Spotlight, Ryan, Billy Collins, and Kimberly Voorhis unpack three brands that turned overlooked moments into loyal movements. Ryan kicks things off with Goldbelly, the mail-order marketplace delivering regional food favorites nationwide—think deep-dish from Chicago or crab cakes from Maryland. Kimberly sings the praises of Trader Joe’s, a grocery chain that proves simplicity is courageous, where decision fatigue fades, handwritten signs spark delight, and hidden monkeys keep kids smiling. Billy closes with Scrub Daddy, the Shark Tank sponge that scrubbed away boredom and built a half-billion-dollar empire with flex-texture tech, irreverent TikTok humor, and holiday-themed clean-up companions. These brands may serve very different needs, but each one earns its place through conviction, creativity, and the courage to make everyday things feel a little more magical.

Dr. Michelle K. Johnston believes the future of leadership starts with connection. As a professor, executive coach, and co-author of The Seismic Shift in You, Michelle is on a mission to help leaders rewire how they show up—starting with energy, perspective, and a deeper sense of humanity. In this episode, she and Ryan talk about the real cost of disconnection, why great leadership isn’t about control, and how shifting small habits can trigger massive cultural impact. She also shares powerful stories from her research, including how Drew Brees helped unify post-Katrina New Orleans, and why even virtual energy can be contagious

With a career spanning Nike, Converse, Tom’s, and now MOOVLAB, Magnus Wedhammar is fueled by a passion for purposeful movement. In this episode of the Courageous Podcast, Magnus reflects on navigating Tom’s through the chaos of early 2020, shifting its iconic one-for-one model, and leading with transparency in a world that changed overnight. He shares what it means to build something from scratch after decades inside global brands, why he values scrappiness over slide decks, and how MOOVLAB aims to reimagine the chair not as furniture, but as a tool for better health. For Magnus, courage isn’t ego—it’s authenticity, action, and a belief that better is worth building.

Fear. Joy. Anger. Sadness. For Oscar-nominated screenwriter Meg LeFauve, these characters aren’t just creations — they’re living, breathing beings who rely on her to get their stories out of her head and onto the page. And Meg doesn’t take that responsibility lightly. In this wide-ranging conversation, the writer behind Inside Out, Inside Out 2, The Good Dinosaur, Captain Marvel, and more shares the sacred, deeply human process of storytelling. She talks about why fear is never the enemy, the real work behind cultivating curiosity, and how Pixar’s legendary “brain trust” taught her to embrace failure faster. Meg opens up about her lifelong companion (anxiety) and the rituals that help her keep showing up for her characters, even when doubt floods in. She also reflects on writing with her husband, honoring creative timing, and the everyday courage it takes to evolve — both on the page and in life itself.

Pri Narang likes to go fast. It’s no surprise, then, that she’s sprinting toward the very edge of what’s possible. While most are currently navigating an AI conversation, Pri — a Caltech-trained quantum physicist, award-winning professor, and U.S. Science Envoy — is pioneering the quantum frontier to solve humanity’s most pressing challenges. In this episode, she and Ryan unpack “quantum theory” including what it takes to lead when the roadmap doesn’t exist. Pri also shares how she equips teams to solve problems no one’s ever cracked, what her endurance training has taught her about resilience, and why the emotional journey of discovery is just as important as the science. This is a conversation that spans research, policy, purpose, and the power of going full speed into the unknown.

George Felix knows how to make legacy brands feel unapologetically modern. As Chief Marketing Officer at Chili’s, and former marketing leader at Pizza Hut and KFC, he’s built a career on bold ideas that spark conversation—without losing sight of what makes a brand iconic. In this conversation with Ryan and Billy Collins, George shares how Chili’s is embracing its irreverent voice while staying rooted in what people love about the brand. He explains how the best marketing blends gut instinct with creative testing, why a winning campaign starts with internal alignment, and how the best insights often come from spending time in restaurants, not just reading decks. He also reflects on the evolution of brand-building in the digital era—and why trust, taste, and timing are everything when you're trying to break through.

As one of Peloton’s founding instructors, Hannah Corbin has helped millions move their bodies. But her new mission is just as bold: helping people slow down. Her new book Did You Stretch Tho makes a powerful case for rest, recovery, and treating yourself like someone worth caring for. In this episode, Hannah joins Ryan to talk about what it takes to stay soft in a world that rewards hardness. They discuss how she overcame imposter syndrome to write her first book, how an autoimmune diagnosis changed the way she leads, and what it really means to move with intention. Hannah opens up about the pressure to be “on” all the time, how she stays grounded in community, and why her biggest creative leaps often come with a quiet voice of doubt—and the courage to keep going anyway.

Smart, heart and courage. That has been the way-he-leads elevator pitch for Greg Creed who proves you don’t have to be a hard-charging tyrant to win — you can build billion-dollar brands by being human. In this episode, Greg tells Ryan how leading Taco Bell and later Yum! Brands was never about perfect plans or rigid control — it was about creating a culture where people felt safe to try things. Greg explains why he would rather see a team make a decision and adjust than freeze in place, and why vulnerability from the person at the top unlocks real trust. He shares stories from the road — taking big swings, laughing through the chaos, and refusing to let fear run the room. As you’ll soon learn, Greg’s story is proof that real leadership isn’t about control — it’s about creating the conditions for courage to thrive.

Sona Khosla thinks purpose belongs on the P&L. As Chief Impact Officer at Benevity, nicknamed the company’s “conscience”, she helps global brands turn doing good into real business momentum. After a personal loss, she pivoted from marketing and built Benevity Impact Labs, using $3.8B in annual giving data to separate noise from signal. We talk about the new era of “quiet courage,” where companies may soften the language but keep the work moving. Sona shares small actions any employee can take right now and why authentic impact keeps people longer and sharpens performance. Her bottom line: purpose and profit aren’t at odds - done right, they accelerate each other.

On the other side of the world lives Franziska Iseli. “Frankie”, as her friends call her, has built a life around chasing fear and turning it into freedom. The Swiss-born Australian entrepreneur has much in common with Ryan. She is a co-founder (Basic Bananas and Ocean Lovers), an author to a book about courage (The Courage Map) and an eternal optimist. Frankie joins Ryan to talk about what it means to live courage; not just write about it. She shares how a 12,000-kilometer motorcycle journey led to her book along with why she believes courage and curiosity belong together. She also opens up about conflict avoidance, kindness as a leadership tool, and how daily discomfort builds lasting confidence.

Bryant Brennan builds brands by shipping work that matters. Before taking the reins at Autodesk, he shaped culture at Peloton, launched products at Barnes & Noble, and explored startup grit at Fi. In this conversation with Ryan, Bryant talks about the shift from building consumer icons to leading a legacy brand that powers architects, animators, and innovators across the globe. He explains why he tells his team “we get to do this,” how AI can sharpen creative instincts instead of replacing them, and why the best leaders give people room to paint their masterpiece. For Bryant, great teams aren’t fearless alone, they’re fearless together.

Steven Bernstein has spent a career proving that risk and creativity go hand in hand. The award-winning director and cinematographer behind Decoding Annie Parker, Monster, and Like Water for Chocolate has shot nearly 50 films and written projects that have drawn actors like Rhys Ifans, John Malkovich, and Samantha Morton. In this conversation with Ryan, he shares how radical honesty drives trust on set, why character always comes before plot, and how his unorthodox process led to his latest novel-turned-film GRQ / Get Rich Quick. His message is simple: stop waiting to be ready, finish the work, and put it into the world.

Our Courage Brands Spotlight is back, and this time Ryan, Billy, and Nicole put three very different brands under the lens. Billy kicks things off with Gymshark—the billion-dollar fitness brand built on TikTok and influencers instead of ads. Billy shares how a teenager’s side hustle turned into a global movement that connects physical and mental health. Nicole brings Oreo to the table, breaking down how a century-old classic stays fresh with bold flavor experiments, scarcity plays, and collaborations that keep people reaching for the blue package. Ryan closes with Liquid Death, the canned-water disruptor that proves purpose and playfulness can go hand in hand, from Spinal Tap spoofs to a mission of “murdering plastic.” Together, the team explores what makes these brands stand out, why courage often means resisting overthinking, and how clarity and conviction separate brands that lead from those that follow.

Ranjay Gulati believes courage isn’t about being fearless — it’s about taking action when fear shows up. As the Paul R. Lawrence MBA Class of 1942 Professor at Harvard Business School and author of Deep Purpose and How to Be Bold, he studies how leaders and organizations confront uncertainty and turn it into fuel for growth. In this conversation with Ryan, Ranjay shares his fear equation, explores why risk-averse cultures fall into the “success trap,” and explains why purpose-driven conviction unlocks bold action. Along the way, he shares the family stories that shaped his lens and why feels Tom Cruise’s “I don’t mind being scared” mantra is a teachable skill, not something that he was born with.

At Uber, Danielle Trivisonno Hawley turns bold ideas into work the world can’t ignore. As Global Executive Creative Director, she’s behind campaigns like “Tonight I’ll Be Eating,” Uber Don’t Eats, and #KeepUkraineMoving, while leading launches for products like Uber Reserve, Uber Teens, and Uber Trains. In this conversation with Ryan, Danielle shares the framework behind Uber’s creative voice—bold, direct, and rooted in heart—and how her team balances speed with clarity in a company that pivots overnight. They dig into staying brave in an autonomous, AI-driven future, the quiet rigor behind “making it look easy,” and why great advertising works when everyone feels included in the joke.

The things we say to ourselves we’d rarely say to another person. Our self-talk, when we let it run rampant, can spiral us, slow us down and shrink our self-confidence. On this episode of The Courageous Podcast, Ryan teams up with his co-authors Rhett Power and Suzy Burke, PhD to preview their new book Headamentals (out Oct 28), a book born from six years of research, rewrites, and real-life coaching. Together, they explore how to wrangle that inner critic and what it takes to ensure that self-talk doesn’t impact team-talk. Headamentals is part science, part story, part book and part workbook—and this conversation is your sneak peek into how to crack those self-narratives so that you can lead yourself and others.

David van der Sanden turns Patagonia’s purpose into something employees can live, not just understand. As Head of Internal Communications & Engagement, he focuses on translating the company’s mission to save our home planet into stories, actions, and experiences that connect people to the work and to one another. In this conversation with Ryan, David shares how Patagonia’s “business-unusual” culture shows up behind the scenes, like pairing clarity with action through activism hours, repair programs, and Worn Wear initiatives. He reflects on leading with radical honesty, why curiosity beats confrontation in divided times, and how staying grounded in purpose keeps teams inspired and engaged.