Some people survive disruption; Patrick Leddin reverse‑engineers it for sport. Now he’s teamed with the world’s best‑selling author, James Patterson, to turn chaos into a step‑by‑step field manual. In this episode of The Courageous Podcast, Patrick explains to Ryan how a college dropout became a Ranger, a CEO, and a Vanderbilt professor. He explains why he quit tenure to write Disrupt Everything with James Patterson, and how hundreds of interviews showed him that disruption is raw material, not bad luck. Patrick shares the four checkpoints that steer any shake‑up toward progress, plus the “game‑on” mindset that swaps anxiety for motion. From family pivots to global crises, Patrick shows how to turn the next jolt into a straighter path to purpose.
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53:14
Jason Feifer - Editor in Chief of Entrepreneur Magazine
Jason Feifer has turned pattern-spotting into a super-power: on the page, on stage, and on LinkedIn’s daily feed. In his conversation with Ryan, Jason, Editor-in-Chief of Entrepreneur magazine, author of Build for Tomorrow, host of the million-download podcast Help Wanted, and writer of the 65-thousand-subscriber newsletter One Thing Better, breaks down how he turns vague ambitions into clear, repeatable systems. He explains the “fresh-brain” morning ritual that powers his content engine, the incremental risks that build true courage, and the rules that keep his personal brand and Entrepreneur symbiotic. From building scarcity around his own voice to teaching companies how to decode viral ads, Jason shows that the fastest route to tomorrow is mastering one thing better today.
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28:28
Len Forkas – Tech Entrepreneur, Founder, Philanthropist, & Speaker
After a 30 hour flight to Kathmandu, Len Forkas, joins The Courageous Podcast before his daunting task of climbing Mount Everest to help raise awareness and funds for kids battling cancer. Len is the Founder of Milestone Towers, a Seven‑Summits contender, and Chairman of the foundation, Hopecam. In his conversation with Ryan, Len traces the moment his eight‑year‑old son asked, “Am I going to die?” and how that question sparked a mission now connecting 5,500+ children with cancer to their classmates in every U.S. state. He breaks down the mindset that powers 3,000‑mile bike races, South‑Pole ski treks, and this month’s Everest attempt. He reminds us that while he can choose to turn back on his journey on Everest, the kids with cancer don’t have that option. Along the way he reveals why the true summit isn’t a ridgeline at 29,000 feet but a kitchen table stacked with blueberry pancakes for a daughter who once called him out for training too much.Learn more about partnering with Hopecam here: https://www.hopecam.org/
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43:58
Aaron Starkman – Partner & Global CCO at Rethink
Aaron Starkman’s award shelves are overflowing, but it’s the process behind the honors that truly fascinates him. Currently leading Rethink as Global Chief Creative Officer, Aaron guided the fiercely independent agency to become the most awarded in the world, clinching Independent Network & Agency of the Year at Cannes, The One Show, the Andys, and more in 2024. His creative direction has spurred viral hits like Coors Light’s “Light’s Out” and Heinz’s “Draw Ketchup,” with mainstream outlets such as CNN, NBC, and Jimmy Kimmel all spotlighting his team’s clever, culture-shaping campaigns. In his conversation with Ryan, Aaron talks about how doubling down on core principles, especially during COVID, fueled Rethink’s rise to the top. He also shares his personal journey with anxiety, revealing how therapy and medication freed him from self-doubt so he could focus on bold, simple work. From pivoting big concepts in record time to safeguarding a steadfast no-sell ethos, Aaron shows how a transparent process and a dash of humor can fuel fearless creativity.
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50:54
Nick Tran - Visionary Marketing Executive
As former Global Head of Marketing at TikTok, Nick Tran transformed the company from an upstart app into a global cultural phenomenon, earning it Ad Age’s Marketer of the Year in 2021. A marketing executive with a knack for steering high visibility brands, he also drove revivals at Hulu, Samsung, and Taco Bell, always aiming to keep companies culturally on point. Now, he’s stepping into a new chapter as president and CMO of a spirits venture backed by Diageo’s Ciroc and LeBron James’s tequila brand, Lobos 1707—blending celebrity, storytelling, and lifestyle marketing into one bold move. Beyond the corporate world, Nick invests in consumer disruptors like Liquid Death, Away, and Olipop, and even found time to executive-produce the acclaimed Jeen-Yuhs trilogy. In his conversation with Ryan, Nick explains why CMOs must “unlearn marketing” and shares how he balances creative risk-taking with the need for performance. He also reveals how feeding children carrots became his favorite metaphor for a truly balanced brand strategy and opens up about his pivot to fatherhood in London.
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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