Episodes

What happens when technology and distraction slowly replace the one thing that makes us human? WALL-E shows us the cost — a world where people float in hover chairs, screens in their faces, completely disconnected from each other. The little robot surrounded by consumed-away humanity still yearns to connect, and that spark is everything. Jennica, filmmaker and Johns Hopkins-trained health scientist, has spent her career building exactly those moments of real connection — with refugees, child sol...

Luca teaches us that the monsters we fear most often aren't monsters at all — they're just people we haven't understood yet. And sometimes the biggest reframe isn't about other people. It's about how we see the problems in front of us. Ryan Boswell — hedge fund general partner, serial entrepreneur, and one of the most connected young business minds in Utah — joins Ryan Gregerson to talk about building a career on perspective, not a plan. After dropping out of college, bouncing through an AI sta...

Dream Chasing is what Bob Weiss spent four decades doing at Walt Disney Imagineering — and in this episode, he shares exactly what that journey looks like from the inside. Bob Weiss, former President of Walt Disney Imagineering, joins Ryan Gregerson to unpack the leadership philosophy, creative culture, and dream-chasing wisdom behind some of Disney's greatest parks and attractions — including Tokyo Disneyland, Shanghai Disneyland, Tower of Terror, Rise of the Resistance, and more. 🎯 3 Actiona...

National Treasure — the 2004 Disney film — gets one thing exactly right: sometimes you have to declare your intention before you have any guarantee of success. Ryan Gregerson recorded this episode from Washington D.C., standing hours away from the actual Declaration of Independence at the National Archives, 80 days before America turns 250. 🎯 3 Actionable Takeaways 1. Read it — Read the Declaration of Independence this week as a personal assignment. Read the names. Let it land that these were ...

What if the pain your family never talked about is quietly running your life? Encanto shows us why. Mirabel's family had wounds buried under roles, expectations, and silence — and that's exactly what Dr. Cindy Chia has spent her career helping people uncover. 🎯 3 ACTIONABLE TAKEAWAYS Name It First – Identify the thing your family doesn't talk about. Trauma persists when avoided. Naming it breaks the cycle. Get Clear on What You Want – Do you want to pass this on, or change the story? Deciding...

What if the scariest chapter of your life is actually the one that sets you free? Beauty and the Beast shows us why. Belle chose curiosity over comfort, stepping into an uncertain castle to save her father. And that's exactly what Sybrina did when she left 25 years as a stay-at-home mom to launch Kimber Capital. 🎯 3 Actionable Takeaways Be Present and Use What You Have – You don't need to search for new tools; leverage what's already accessible. Why it works: Belle befriended the enchanted obje...

Ever wonder if someone's being charming or manipulating you? Tangled shows us the difference. Mother Gothel kept Rapunzel locked away using fake love and manufactured urgency, while Flynn learned that real influence comes from genuine connection. That's exactly what Josh Emfield discovered as a military interrogator: manipulation breaks trust, but influence builds it. 🎯 3 Actionable Takeaways Slow Down Decisions – When pressured to sign or commit, say "I've made myself a promise not to sign any...

What if the leaders who actually change communities aren't the loudest voices in the room? The Lion King shows us why. Mufasa's strength wasn't dominance—it was genuine curiosity about every creature in the Pride Lands. And that's exactly what Mayor Lorin Palmer discovered when he stopped networking and started building real relationships. 🎯 3 Actionable Takeaways Have a Conversation with Someone You Disagree With – Seek out one difficult conversation per week. Why it works: Understanding diffe...

Toy Story and the Epidemic of Loneliness: Why Connection Keeps Us Alive What if loneliness is killing you—literally? Toy Story shows us why. When Woody's identity feels threatened by Buzz, he withdraws into competition and insecurity. That's exactly what happens when divorce, career pressure, or life transitions leave us feeling unchosen—and the Surgeon General confirms it's as dangerous as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. In this episode, Ryan Gregerson uses Toy Story to explore the epidemic of l...

FROZEN 2 AND BREAKING INTO MALE-DOMINATED INDUSTRIES | WITH ASHLEY LUKE What if the safe path everyone expects you to take is actually keeping you from your best life? Frozen 2 shows us why. Anna's willingness to step into the unknown—without magic, without certainty—was her real strength. And that's exactly what Ashley Luke discovered when she left corporate America, sold everything to move to France, and eventually built a thriving business in a male-dominated industry. 🎯 3 ACTIONABLE TAKEAWA...

Mulan didn't quit when the army sent her home. She came back anyway — and saved all of China. What if that kind of grit is less about toughness, and more about knowing why you won't stop? In this episode, Jacob Davis — tech entrepreneur, startup veteran, and CEO of WellTrio — joins Ryan Gregerson to talk about what success through not quitting actually looks like. His journey mirrors Mulan's: never quite fitting the expected mold, facing real adversity, and discovering that the refusal to quit ...

What happens when a company known for magic starts losing its creative spark? In this episode of Yes And Land with Ryan Gregerson, we explore Bob Iger’s leadership journey through one of the most turbulent chapters in Disney’s modern history. Drawing from The Ride of a Lifetime, Ryan reflects on the breakdown of trust, the dangers of centralized control, and how psychological safety shapes innovation. This conversation dives into succession planning, corporate culture, executive decision-makin...

What if the behaviors everyone tells you to fix aren't actually the problem? Remember the Titans shows us why. Coach Boone didn't win with a new playbook — he changed who his players were becoming. And that's exactly what divorce attorney and former judge Shea Owens has witnessed across football fields, rural courtrooms, and a decade of navigating some of Utah's most complex legal terrain. 🎯 3 Actionable Takeaways Change Your Paradigm First – Before trying to fix any conflict, try viewing it f...

What if the thing standing between you and your creative life isn't talent, but the story you've told yourself about who gets to be an artist? Ratatouille knows. Remy wasn't blocked by ability. He was blocked by a world that said a rat had no business in the kitchen. And that's exactly what Kirsten Hirst discovered when she stopped trying to recreate someone else's picture and finally started making her own. Kirsten Hirst is the Director of Revenue Operations at RCG Law Group, a practicing coll...

What if the biggest thing holding you back online isn’t your skill — but your need to look perfect? In this episode of Yes And Land, Ryan Gregerson sits down with Jana Oman to explore authenticity, personal branding, and the pressure to show up polished in a world obsessed with highlight reels. Jana shares her journey from learning to code in the early MS-DOS era at just eight years old to carving out a unique identity in real estate by embracing who she truly is. Through the lens of Disney’s ...

What happens when you realize you are not built to follow someone else’s blueprint? In this episode of Yes And Land with Ryan Gregerson, Ryan welcomes entrepreneur Ryan Brown for an honest conversation about rejecting traditional career paths and building something aligned with purpose. After graduating early from the University of Utah with a marketing degree, Ryan faced major corporate opportunities. Instead of stepping into a conventional role, he chose entrepreneurship. From medical billin...

🎙️ Yes And Land — Podcast Show Notes Host: Ryan Gregerson Guest: Kenton Walker Episode Theme: Mentorship, growth mindset, and leading with experience 🌱 Episode Overview In this thoughtful and wide-ranging episode of Yes And Land, Ryan Gregerson sits down with attorney Kenton Walker to explore the true meaning of mentorship—and why it matters more than ever in fast-paced, high-pressure professional environments. Kenton shares his unconventional career journey, from pharmacist to patent litiga...

What does it really take to step into the unknown—especially when fear, comfort, and outside doubt are pulling you back? In this episode of Yes And Land with Ryan Gregerson, Ryan is joined by Sophie Gardner, President of Ultimate Advisors and Director of Client Solutions at RCG Law Group, for a powerful conversation about courage, change, and personal evolution. Sophie shares her unconventional career journey from real estate into private equity and high-level business leadership, highlighting ...

In this powerful episode of Yes And Land, host Ryan Gregerson welcomes entrepreneur and attorney Joey Carlson for a wide-ranging conversation on the transformative power of storytelling. Joey shares how reframing narratives has shaped his journey through entrepreneurship, law, staffing underserved communities, and navigating divorce. From early business lessons to helping individuals rebuild their lives during some of their most difficult moments, this episode explores how belief, vision, and e...

Leadership isn’t always chosen. Sometimes it chooses you. In this episode of Yes And Land with Ryan Gregerson, Ryan is joined by Just Blane, CEO of Ride The Wave Media and veteran audio producer with over 11,000 shows to his name. Together, they explore what it means to step into leadership when you’re unprepared, uncertain, or even unwilling. Blane shares stories from his journey, from growing up on a Tennessee farm to producing major radio and streaming shows, revealing how curiosity, grit, ...

Emotional intelligence isn’t a buzzword, it’s a life skill. In this episode of Yes And Land with Ryan Gregerson, Ryan welcomes Miriam from the South Valley Chamber of Commerce for a thoughtful conversation about communication, leadership, and the power of genuine connection. Miriam shares her journey from discovering the Disney College Program during the pandemic to becoming a Disney cast member and later stepping into a marketing leadership role shortly after graduating college. Along the way,...

Episode Summary What happens when we stop responding to life, conflict, and pain with “but” and start responding with “yes, and”? In this opening episode of Yes And Land with Ryan Gregerson, Ryan introduces the core philosophy behind the podcast: validation as the starting point for growth. Drawing from personal experience, relationships, leadership, and lessons borrowed from improv comedy, Ryan explores how acknowledging someone’s lived experience creates space for empathy, connection, and mea...

Welcome to Yes And Land with Ryan Gregerson. This is the podcast where curiosity leads, creativity thrives, and every conversation builds instead of shuts down. Inspired by the improviser’s golden rule of “yes, and…,” Ryan Gregerson invites thinkers, creators, leaders, and culture-shapers into open, open-minded conversations about ideas in motion. No shouting matches. No hot takes for clicks. Just thoughtful dialogue that expands what’s possible. What makes Yes And Land different? Ryan uses Dis...